Rod Stewart, the legendary British rocker, turned heads and charmed the crowd as he walked the red carpet with his wife, Penny Lancaster, at the star-studded UK premiere of the documentary EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. Held on February 12, 2026, at the BFI IMAX Waterloo in London, the event was a dazzling celebration of music royalty, both past and present.
Stewart, 81, known for his signature raspy voice and flamboyant style, did not disappoint with his outfit. He sported a black-and-white polka dot shirt paired with equally striking black-and-white checked trousers, topped with a black waistcoat and a textured leather coat. Completing the look, Stewart slipped on black and white penny loafers, exuding a retro-inspired flair that seemed both a nod to the past and a statement of his own enduring cool. According to Daily Mail, he draped a black leather biker jacket over his shoulders, adding a touch of rock-and-roll swagger as he wrapped an arm around Lancaster.
Penny Lancaster, 54, complemented her husband’s ensemble with her own chic take on glam. She wore a black beaded dress, a smart single-breasted blazer, and a leopard-print scarf, finishing off the look with gold and black cowboy boots. Her radiant smile and confident presence made the couple one of the most photographed pairs of the evening, as reported by Parade.
The premiere itself was a magnet for celebrities and music lovers alike. The couple mingled with a host of famous faces, including actor Richard E. Grant, director Baz Luhrmann, singer Anita Dobson and her husband, Queen guitarist Brian May, musician Grace Chatto, comedian Frank Skinner, singer Lily Moore, model Sophie Longford, and even Oasis’ Noel Gallagher. The red carpet was a scene of camaraderie and excitement, with Stewart warmly shaking hands with Luhrmann and sharing laughs with old friends. As Daily Mail noted, Stewart even grabbed a microphone at the entrance, showing off his singing skills and posing for the cameras—a moment that delighted both fans and fellow guests.
The documentary at the heart of the evening, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, promises never-before-seen footage and recordings of Elvis Presley during his famed Las Vegas residency in the later stages of his career. Directed by visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, the film is set for release in cinemas across the UK and worldwide on February 27, 2026. According to Daily Mail, the project aims to capture the energy and charisma of Presley, the man who forever changed the landscape of popular music.
Elvis Presley’s influence, of course, loomed large over the night. Presley, who exploded onto the scene in 1956 with hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Hound Dog,” became known for his electrifying stage presence and hip-shaking television performances. His rise from a former truck driver to the “King of Rock and Roll” sparked global hysteria and cemented his place as one of the world’s biggest stars. Despite his untimely death at age 42 on August 16, 1977, Presley’s legacy endures, with hundreds of millions of records sold worldwide and an unshakable influence on generations of musicians.
It’s no surprise, then, that Stewart—himself a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer—has long admired Presley. In a playful Instagram post after the premiere, Stewart gave a lighthearted shoutout to the King, writing, “Elvis had it all! But I’m not doing too bad meself 🤩 great movie! @universalpicturesuk #epicmovie.” The post, which jokingly compared himself to Presley, drew a flood of positive reactions from fans. Comments ranged from “WOW! You look like you did 40 years ago!” to “Always a stylish bloke!” and “Looking good, Sir Rod.” Some even played along with the musical banter: “Wake up, Elvis, I think I got something to sing to youuu…” and “Elvis was the king, Rod is GOD.”
Stewart’s admiration for Presley isn’t just for show. In a past interview cited by Biography, Stewart stated, “Elvis was the king. No doubt about it. People like myself, Mick Jagger and all the others only followed in his footsteps.” It’s a sentiment echoed by many in the music industry, including Bruce Springsteen, who once shared how Presley’s music changed his life. As quoted by Far Out Magazine, Springsteen recalled, “When I heard it, it just shot straight through to my brain. I realized, suddenly, that there was more to life than what I’d been living. I was then in pursuit of something, and there’d been a vision laid out before me. You were dealing with the pure thrust, the pure energy of the music itself. I was so very young, but it still hit me like a thunderbolt.”
The premiere wasn’t just about nostalgia for the icons of yesteryear. It was a vibrant, living testament to the enduring power of music to bring people together. The crowd included not only older fans who grew up with Presley’s records but also younger generations introduced to his magic through films, documentaries, and the artists he inspired. The red carpet itself was a runway of style, with guests donning everything from silver fringe-embellished dresses (as seen on Anita Dobson) to off-the-shoulder mini dresses (worn by Grace Chatto) and even Elvis Presley T-shirts, proudly sported by Frank Skinner.
As the cameras flashed and the music played, there was a palpable sense of celebration—not just of Presley’s extraordinary career, but of the way his spirit continues to ripple through popular culture. The documentary’s promise of rare footage and intimate recordings only added to the sense of occasion. For Stewart and Lancaster, the night was a chance to pay homage to a hero and to bask in the glow of their own well-earned stardom. For everyone else, it was a reminder that legends never truly leave us; their influence lives on in every note, every performance, and every new artist who dares to dream big.
The story of Elvis Presley is, at its heart, the story of transformation—of a young man from Mississippi who became a global phenomenon and inspired countless others, from Stewart to Springsteen and beyond. On a chilly February night in London, that story was celebrated in style, with laughter, music, and a touch of rock and roll bravado. The King may be gone, but his reign endures, echoed in the voices and hearts of those who continue to walk the path he blazed.