Ronnie McDowell Undergoes Surgery One Month After Suffering A Stroke On Stage

Beloved Country Singer Ronnie McDowell Had A Mini-Stroke During A Show On June 21

Ronnie McDowell, the singer behind classic hits such as “The King Is Gone” and “Older Women,” suffered a mini-stroke on stage during a concert last month. He was performing at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pennsylvania, on June 21 when it soon became clear that something wasn’t right.

His son, Ronnie McDowell Jr. (Ronnie Dean), was at the show that day. Ronnie Dean recalled how his dad kept slurring his words and forgetting lyrics, which was entirely out of character.

“He told me that he wasn’t ok, and that’s not how my strong Dad talks, he said that he thought that he might be having a stroke. I immediately took him to the Sprinter for him to cool off. I asked the incredible promoter to bring over an EMT.“

After some tests at the hospital, Ronnie and his family learned he had a mini-stroke. While that was a scary diagnosis to receive, doctors gave the green light for Ronnie to return home on June 23.

Ronnie’s medical team also gave him the all-clear to continue exercising and performing, as long as he didn’t push himself too hard. In a short video update he shared on July 26, Ronnie appeared to be in good spirits as he addressed his fans:

“Hi folks! Yes, I had a stroke.” Then, Ronnie pointed at his neck and said, “I gotta get all this plaque cleared out here on my jugular.”

Ronnie returned to the stage on June 28, just one week after his stroke. He performed for a sold-out audience in Kentucky.

Ronnie McDowell’s Son Shares Update After The Singer’s Surgery

On July 15, Ronnie Dean shared that his dad scheduled his surgery for July 22. He asked his followers to keep Ronnie in their prayers, writing:

“He is the Best Dad that any Son could ever ask for. We have traveled all over God’s Creation together and we will continue to do so once he gets through this…. Please Pray for my Incredibly Awesome blessing of a Dad!”

Ronnie’s other son, Tyler McDowell, shared more details about his dad’s surgery with Rolling Stone. He told the publication that Ronnie would undergo a Carotid endarterectomy.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a Carotid endarterectomy is a procedure to treat carotid artery disease. During the operation, the surgeon creates an incision along the front of the patient’s neck to open the carotid artery and remove any plaque clogging it. Afterward, the surgeon repairs the artery with a patch or stitches.

Ronnie Dean kept fans updated after his dad got out of surgery on July 22. In his first update, he shared that the doctor told him Ronnie was “doing great.”

Ronnie Dean shared a longer update after he talked to his dad on the phone on July 23. He said Ronnie was already resting at home and was in a good mood.

From there, Ronnie Dean thanked everyone who’s been praying for Ronnie since his stroke. He said:

“He said to tell everyone Thank You again for all of your thoughts, Prayers and cards. He’s been reading every one [of] them…. Needless to say, yesterday was one of the most emotionally [challenging] days of my life. Seeing the man that means the world to me having to go through something like that was just terrifying.”

In an update of his own, Tyler shared “there was a slight complication” during the operation that gave them a scare, but Ronnie is doing alright now:

“I’m not sure it’s appropriate for me to dive into specifics just yet—especially since we’re still sorting through them ourselves,” Tyler wrote. “But from what I understand, there was a slight complication, likely related to the blood thinners. Thankfully, it was handled quickly and now, I finally feel comfortable enough to say: I do believe… Dad is okay.“

Read Tyler’s entire post below. We’ll continue to keep Ronnie in our prayers.