Rod Stewart has opened his heart about the devastating impact of his split from ex-wife Rachel Hunter, revealing that the breakup “tore him to shreds.” The 80-year-old music legend was married to the New Zealand model, now 55, for eight years, and they share two children — daughter Renee, 33, and son Liam, 30.

The couple first met when Rachel was just 21, and despite a whirlwind romance that led to marriage just three months later, their 24-year age gap eventually took its toll. Reflecting on that period, Rod shared that even his sister Mary had warned him against marrying someone so young. “Rachel left me because she was too young,” he told The Times. “But it tore me to shreds.”

Their divorce was finalized in 2006, seven years after Rachel ended the relationship. During that period, Rod embraced single life — dating models including Caprice Bourret — before fate led him to Penny Lancaster, now his wife. Rod met Penny just six months after his split from Rachel, joking that the delay was only because his friend refused to give him her number.

Now, Rod describes Penny as his everything, crediting her for bringing balance and happiness back into his life. The pair married in 2007 and share two sons, Alastair, 19, and Aiden, 14. Despite early skepticism from both sides of the family, Penny and Rachel now share a warm relationship and are regularly seen attending family events together.

In his memoir, Rod recalled being struck by Rachel’s beauty and down-to-earth nature. “She wasn’t the stereotype of a flaky model,” he wrote. “She had her own fame and money. That was a relief.”

Rod, who has eight children with five different women, continues to perform to sold-out crowds. Last week, his youngest sons proudly supported him at Glastonbury Festival as he headlined the iconic Legends slot. The singer then jetted off to Canada for another glittering show.

Now at peace with his past and surrounded by a blended, supportive family, Rod says, “All the exes get on — I must have done something right.”