If you watched the Rod Stewart special on CBS and found yourself wondering where all that energy was coming from, you are not alone. Millions of viewers tuned in on May 19, 2026, to watch Sir Rod Stewart perform his biggest hits, go backstage, and open up about his life in a way fans had never quite seen before. The venue looked incredible, the crowd was electric, and the whole production felt larger than life. So where exactly was the Rod Stewart special filmed? Here is everything you need to know.
Rod Stewart Special Filming Locations
The Rod Stewart special Forever Young: A Grammy Salute to Rod Stewart Live was filmed at Hard Rock Live inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The special was taped at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on February 27, 2026. Because “Stay with Me” appeared in the televised setlist and was not performed on February 27, footage from the February 28 concert was also included.
The two-hour special aired on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET/PT on CBS and was also available to stream on Paramount+.
Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida
Hard Rock Live is an indoor amphitheater located at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, at 5747 Seminole Way. Although the venue is in the city of Hollywood, it sits in the Greater Miami area of South Florida, which is why many outlets refer to the filming location simply as “Miami.”
The venue originally opened in 2005 as a multipurpose arena that hosted sporting events, concerts, comedy shows, and rodeo performances. It closed for renovations and reopened on October 25, 2019, as part of a $1.5 billion expansion to the entire property.
Hard Rock Live is a 7,000-capacity venue set inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. It is built for big nights, pairing crisp acoustics with clear sightlines across every level.
The venue is primed as the epicenter of South Florida entertainment and hosts state-of-the-art technical capabilities that support A-list celebrity performances, award shows, sporting events, and nationally televised programs. Its combination of size, sound quality, and production capabilities made it a strong choice for a nationally broadcast concert special of this scale.
What is the Rod Stewart Special?
The Recording Academy and CBS presented Forever Young: A Grammy Salute to Rod Stewart Live, honoring Sir Rod Stewart, the Grammy Award-winning, two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and one of the best-selling artists in music history.
This two-hour celebration brought viewers on stage and behind the scenes for an all-access concert experience. In addition to Stewart’s showmanship and iconic catalog, the special revealed the man behind the music, as Stewart invited viewers backstage for an intimate interview reflecting on his extraordinary life, devotion to his family, and enduring passion for performing.
The special also included appearances from Rod Stewart’s touring band and musicians J’Anna Jacoby, Kevin Savigar, Curt Schneider, Don Kirkpatrick, Joanne Harper, Becca Kotte, Jimmy Roberts, and Holly.
What was included in the special?
The special was more than just a concert broadcast. It combined several different types of content to give viewers a full picture of Rod Stewart’s life and career.
Live concert footage made up the core of the special. Rod Stewart brought his One Last Time Tour to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on Friday, February 27, treating fans to a hit-filled overview of his career.
Backstage access and interviews were woven throughout. The special featured behind-the-scenes access and a sit-down interview with Stewart reflecting on his life, family, and decades-long career.
Archival footage added historical depth. The special included archival and behind-the-scenes footage to paint a profile of the tireless Grammy winner and two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Who produced the Rod Stewart special?
Ben Winston, Patrick Menton, Harvey Mason Jr., and Lou Fox served as executive producers, with Menton also serving as showrunner. Fulwell Entertainment and Grammy Studios produced the special with support from Iconic Artists Group.
The One Last Time Tour: Why This Special Matters
The Rod Stewart special was filmed during a significant moment in his career. At 81 years old, Stewart remains actively performing through his One Last Time Tour, which launched in 2024 and has evolved into a multi-year global event driven by overwhelming fan demand.
Stewart kicked off his One Last Time World Tour in 2024, selling out shows across North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and beyond, garnering some of the best critical reviews of his career.
In the sixth decade of his career and not slowing down, Rod released his 33rd studio album in 2024, Swing Fever, a collaboration with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.
The One Last Time Tour has become one of the biggest touring events in recent years, and the CBS special gave millions of fans at home the chance to experience it without buying a ticket.
Rod Stewart’s Career at a Glance
Rod Stewart is one of the most successful artists in the history of popular music. He has more than 250 million records and singles sold worldwide. His voice and songwriting have crossed all genres, including rock, folk, soul, R&B, and the Great American Songbook, making him one of the few artists to enjoy chart-topping albums in every decade of his career.
Stewart has earned two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the ASCAP Founders Award for songwriting, and in 2016 became “Sir Rod Stewart” after being knighted at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity.
Some of his best-known songs include “Maggie May,” “Forever Young,” “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?,” “Tonight’s the Night,” “The First Cut is the Deepest,” and “Have I Told You Lately.”
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Where to Watch the Rod Stewart Special?
The special originally aired on CBS on May 19, 2026. After its broadcast debut, it became available to stream on Paramount+, which is accessible through a subscription starting at $8.99 per month. Viewers with cable or a live TV streaming service that carries CBS, such as DirecTV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV, can also access it through those platforms.
