Rod Stewart has hit back at fellow singer Elvis Costello after the singer criticised his performance at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert.
Rod, 77, sang Sweet Caroline at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert on June 4 - which earned a rebuke from Elvis.
Elvis is said to have said to the crowd during a show in Glasgow: "I mean, I know you all love him and he’s one of yours and everything, but Rod. What the f***?"
"I must say, listen we all have bad nights vocally, but for f***’s sake, Sweet f***ing Caroline? Are you f***ing kidding me?"
He added: "I mean I’ve been in showbusiness 45 years so I do know a thing or two. How is it that nobody suggested Rod sing You Wear It Well?"
But Rod hit back writing on social media: “‘Yes my voice was rough cos of Covid. I apologise, I thought it better it to make an appearance rather than let everyone down so sorry. By the way, where’s your hair gone mate????? Sir Rod."
Elvis later clarified what he was reported to have said and hit back: "If you read my actual remark, it’s about the wrong-headed idea of asking Sir Rod pass up You Wear It Well to lead a f***ing singalong."
He then tried to issue a playful response to diffuse the situation.
He wrote: "Dear Lord Stewart. You know I love you. Think the Queen would have loved You Wear It Well or even Hot Legs.
"As to gigs, I had a stinker the other night in Liverpool. They come and go, like hair, which I keep sewn in my hat. Up The Republic. Elvis O.rrible B.loody E.erbet."
Rod’s wife Penny Lancaster previously claimed that her husband “didn’t have much of a choice” when it came to performing Sweet Caroline, as it’s “the Queen’s favourite”.
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Defending his performance, she added: “It was very very touch and go and he was so nervous leading up to it and he was three weeks in Vegas and caught covid just after the last show, he came home and was past the ten-day period of being contagious but he lost his voice.
“So the sound check on the Wednesday he went along and wore a mask but had no voice and he was like how long can I leave it?”
“So he went for another rehearsal on the Friday but his voice is there now but he wasn’t quite on, but he didn’t want to disappoint anybody.
“It wasn’t the Rod Stewart show, it was for the nation and for everybody to come together for the Queen. He wanted to please the people so that was the song.”
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