These words from a country star to his son during a concert may have saved his life

On June 21, 2025, during a performance at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pennsylvania, country music legend Ronnie McDowell suffered a stroke on stage.

The incident happened when the 75-year-old was just a few songs into his set, McDowell’s son and tour manager, Ronnie McDowell Jr., noticed that his father began slurring his words and was forgetting lyrics to songs he had been performing for years. Sensing something was wrong, his son stopped the show and took him off stage with he father mumbling: ’I think I’m having a stroke.’

The Tennessee native was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed he had suffered a mini-stroke. Tests revealed that his carotid artery was approximately 70% blocked, which was the cause of the stroke. Doctors told him that his strong heart helped to save his life by continuing to pump blood despite the blockage.

Doctors advised that the singer would need surgery to clear the blockage. He was released from the hospital and was able to travel home to arrange the procedure. The surgery was successful, but he did have a complication where a hematoma formed, requiring a second procedure.

Following his surgery, McDowell has been recovering at home. He has released video messages to fans and has been vocal about his progress. He has also thanked his fans for their support during this difficult time. While he has had some issues recovering from the anesthesia and swelling, he has stated that he is “improving every day.” He has also resumed some of his performances.

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