Rod Stewart has candidly opened up about how his split from his ex-wife Rachel Hunter ‘tore him to shreds’.

The singer, 80, was in a relationship with the New Zealand model, 55, for nine years and they welcomed two children together – daughter Renee, 33, and son Liam, 30.

The pair, who have a 24-year age gap, met at an LA nightclub when Rachel was just 21 years old, with Rod admitting his sister Mary thought his wife was ‘too young’.

Reflecting on the breakdown of their marriage, Rod admitted their age gap did end up being the reason for their eventual split, which he said ‘tore him to shreds’ at the time.

Making rare comments about his ex-wife, he told The Times: ‘Rachel left me because she was too young — my sister said I should never have married her in the first place — but it tore me to shreds.’

Rod met his now-wife Penny Lancaster just six months after his split from Rachel, and said the gap was purely because his friend wouldn’t hand over her number.

Rod Stewart has candidly opened up about how his split from his ex-wife Rachel Hunter (both pictured in 1998) ‘tore him to shreds’

The pair, who have a 24-year age gap, met at an LA nightclub when Rachel (both pictured) was just 21 years old, with Rod admitting his sister Mary thought his wife was ‘too young’

When asked if he wanted to be single first, he quipped: ‘F***ing right, there were six months between Rachel and Penny because my bass player, who had Penny’s number, wouldn’t give it to me.

‘He said, ”All you’re going to do now is shag around”, and he was right: I had a splendid time in those six months.’

Rod gushed over his wife Penny, 54, and told how she has ‘everything’ he wants as he revealed he is now happier than ever.

The Maggie May hitmaker first met his ex-wife Rachel at Roxbury Club in Los Angeles and told how he thought she was a ‘goddess’ in his 2012 autobiography.

‘There was a connection straight away. She was extremely beautiful, but there was something no-nonsense about her as well,’ he shared in the book.

‘It was there in her New Zealand accent, but also in her face, which was open and smart.

‘Not only was she as far removed as could be from the stereotype of the flaky model, but she already had money and fame. 

‘That was a relief. In my position, that suspicion was always there: does this woman really like me, or just the stuff that surrounds me?’

Reflecting on the breakdown of their marriage, Rod said their age gap ended up being the reason for their split, which he said ‘tore him to shreds’ at the time (pictured in 1999) 

The singer, 80, was in a relationship with the New Zealand model, 55, for nine years and they welcomed two children together – daughter Renee, 33, and son Liam, 30

The next day, he sent two dozen red roses to her model agency and they quickly struck up a romance, tying the knot just three months later in December 1990.

However, Rachel left him heartbroken when she called time on their eight-year marriage in January 1999, some seven years before they divorced in 2006.

Months after their split, Rod embraced single life again and went on dates with models, including Caprice Bourret, though their romance didn’t last.

Rod then met Penny – who was 28 at the time – and they quickly began dating, which he previously admitted was ‘difficult’ on his family at the time.

Rod said his siblings – Mary, Don and Bob – were initially ‘suspicious’ and didn’t want a repeat of his split from Rachel, while Penny’s own brother Oliver was worried about her dating a rock star.

Despite initial tensions, their relationship went from strength-to-strength and the couple tied the knot in June 2007 after his divorce from Rachel was finalised.

Rod and Penny share two children – Alastair, 19, and Aiden, 14 – and the couple are now on good terms with Rod’s ex-wife Rachel.

In 2017, Penny told the Loose Women panel how her and Rachel are now very friendly despite the rocky situation at the beginning.

Rod revealed he met his now-wife Penny Lancaster (both pictured in May) just six months after his split from Rachel, and they went on to tie the knot in 2007 after his divorce was finalised 

Despite the rocky start, Penny and Rachel are now on very good terms and often spend time together as a family (both pictured with Rachel and Rod’s daughter Renee) 

She explained: ‘Rachel and I, over the years, we’ve grown up and both have a lot more in common now. We sit and chat and we’ve got over that silly period 10, 15 years ago.

‘It’s about being adults… We’ve moved on, grown up, and from the beginning I knew I wasn’t dating just Rod; I was in a relationship with his family. 

‘I saw how all his children were getting on and I wanted my future children to do that as well.’

Penny and Rachel are often seen smiling in photographs together during large blended family gatherings.

Speaking of Rachel and Penny’s relationship himself, Rod told the Daily Express: ‘We get on great now and Penny gets on great with Rachel. 

‘In fact all the exes get on so I think I must have done something right.’ 

The rocker has eight children from five different mothers and has been married three times, including his marriages to Penny and Rachel.

Rod welcomed his oldest child, daughter Sarah Streeter, with his ex-girlfriend Susannah Boffey when he was just 18 years old, with the couple giving her up for adoption.

Rod has eight children with five different women (pictured with sons Sean, Aiden, wife Penny and Alastair, Liam, daughter-in-law Nicole, grandson Louie, daughter Renee, ex Rachel Hunter and daughter Ruby)  

His youngest two sons Alastair and Aiden showed their support for their father last week when they attended Glastonbury Festival to watch his headlining set 

The Maggie May hitmaker took over the Legends slot on Glastonbury Festival’s Pyramid Stage on Sunday 

Sarah, now 61, was raised by her adoptive parents but reconnected with Rod later in life, after her adoptive mother’s death in 2007. 

He then went on to have two children, daughter Kimberly, 45, and his son Sean, 44, with his ex-wife Alana Stewart. 

The star fathered another daughter, Ruby, 37, with his former partner Kelly Emberg before marrying his second wife Rachel, who gave birth to Renee and Liam.

Rod then welcomed his youngest two children – Alastair and Aiden – with Penny.

And his youngest two sons showed their support for their father last week when they attended Glastonbury Festival to watch his headlining set.

After he took over the Legends slot on Sunday, Rod took to Instagram to share snaps of his sons proudly watching on from the crowd. 

Aidan sat on elder brothers Alistair’s shoulders for the set, while the 19-year-old wore a shirt from his father’s beloved Celtics football team around his neck. 

Rod captioned the snap: ‘Two of my precious children at @glastofest giving their old dad support. Alastair and Aiden Love ya boys!!’