What actually is the Glastonbury legend slot and does Sir Rod Stewart fit the bill?

Sir Rod Stewart is taking the legend slot at Glastonbury 2025 (Picture: Getty Images)

Rod Stewart is Glastonbury 2025’s first major line-up announcement, and he will be taking the festival’s coveted legend slot on the Sunday afternoon.

The 79-year-old singer will be taking to the Pyramid Stage at teatime on Sunday June 29 in a slot that’s perhaps even more significant than the three Glastonbury headliners.

Historically, the legend slot has attracted some of the biggest crowds, with Shania Twain’s 2024 set filling the grounds all the way up to the fence with a thousands-strong chorus of Man, I Feel Like A Woman.

The Sir Rod announcement – on a random Tuesday in November – came as a surprise to ticketholders, who usually have a months-long wait for any whiff of a headliner confirmation.

Last year, organiser Emily Eavis left it the longest time in 17 years until a single official announcement was made, and it came in the middle of March alongside the full line-up.

This year’s rumoured headliners include Sam Fender, Olivia Rodrigo, Harry Styles, Green Day, Billy Joel, and Eminem.

But what is the legend slot, and does the Maggie May singer fit the bill?

He is a legend, whether you like it or not (Picture: Getty Images)

What is Glastonbury’s legend slot?

Glastonbury’s legend slot is one of the most prestigious sets on the music calendar.

The legend slot sees a music icon of decades-long, award-winning, chart-topping calibre take to the Pyramid Stage on the Sunday afternoon of the festival each year (usually kicking off from 3.15pm to 4.30pm).

It’s not about jumping around like a maniac with beers in hand but tends to be more of a picnic blanket affair for all to bask in appreciation of a true great.

Shania Twain attracted a mammoth crowd in her 2024 legend slot (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

While evening headliners may cater for a certain demographic – see Dua Lipa last year – the legend slot must be known by and attract the festival’s oldest to youngest revellers, all finding it impossible to resist catching a rock, pop, or blues legend in the flesh for what could be one of their final hurrahs.

It’s not for stars in their prime, but for lifetime achievers nearing the end of their illustrious careers – and they must have at least a handful of well-known bangers up their sleeves.

It’s contested as to who unofficially started the legend slot trend, but over the years it’s earned its reputation as a must-see moment at Glastonbury. Subsequently, it adopted the formal title acknowledged by the festival itself.

While Glastonbury has been going since 1970, the first ‘official’ Sunday legend performer was crooner Tony Bennett almost 20 years later in 1998.

Who has played the legend slot?

After the I Left My Heart In San Francisco hitmaker’s legendary 1998 set, the slot was officially one to watch for excited ticketholders.

It’s since been filled by the likes of Sir Tom Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey, James Brown, Sat Stevens/Yusef, Lionel Richie and even Kylie Minogue.

Is Sir Rod Stewart a good fit for the Glastonbury legend slot 2025l?

In short: yes. Sir Rod fits the bill for a Glastonbury legend slot.

With huge hits including Maggie May, I Don’t Want To Talk About It, Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?, All For Love, and Sailing, he’s one of the best-selling artists in history having sold over 250million records worldwide.

Just last year his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra album with Jools Holland got him his 11th No. 1 UK album.

Tony Bennett performed the first ever official Glastonbury legend slot in 1998 (Picture: Brian Rasic/Getty Images)

However – despite his clear eligibility – some Glastonbury-goers weren’t best pleased at the early legend slot announcement, with some criticising the choice.

‘Imagine spending nearly £400 on a ticket only to discover that Rod Stewart is the main act. You’re going to want to hope there’s a decent act on elsewhere,’ wrote @Dickster27.

Meanwhile, @RubyRedhead4 said: ‘Rod Stewart at Glastonbury 2025 is a perfect reason not to go….’

‘Rod Stewart’s singing… very limited, no range. Is this really the best that Glastonbury can do?’ asked @WestingAll38877.

Sir Rod may not be the most popular Sunday legend in recent years, but you can’t deny: he is one.

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