If you’re wondering exactly how old is Cat Stevens, the answer is pretty straightforward, but the man behind the music is anything but simple. Born on July 21, 1948, the legendary singer-songwriter—now legally known as Yusuf Islam—is currently 77 years old. As we move through 2026, he’ll be hitting his 78th birthday this summer. It’s kinda wild to think that the guy who wrote "The First Cut Is the Deepest" when he was just a teenager is still out there, releasing memoirs and (until very recently) planning tours.
Honestly, he doesn't seem to be slowing down much. While most people his age are deep into retirement, Yusuf has been keeping a remarkably high profile. He just released his memoir, Cat On The Road To Findout, in late 2025. There was a whole North American book tour planned for it, though it hit a snag. Basically, a bunch of "unpredictable and befuddling" visa delays meant he had to cancel the U.S. and Canadian dates in December 2025. It’s a bummer for fans, but it shows he’s still got that drive to connect with his audience.
From Steven Georgiou to Yusuf: A Timeline of Cat Stevens
To really understand the man, you’ve gotta look at the layers. He wasn't always the bearded folk-philosopher we see today. He started out as Steven Demetre Georgiou, a kid growing up above his parents' cafe in London's West End.
By the time he was 18, he was a pop star. "Matthew and Son" made him a teen idol in the mid-60s, but the lifestyle nearly killed him. He contracted a nasty case of tuberculosis in 1968. That year of recovery changed everything. It shifted his music from flashy pop to that intimate, acoustic sound we all know from Tea for the Tillerman.
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Then, at the absolute height of his fame in the late 70s, he just... walked away. After nearly drowning in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Malibu, he had a spiritual awakening. He converted to Islam in 1977, changed his name to Yusuf Islam in 1978, and auctioned off all his guitars for charity. For nearly 30 years, the music world thought they’d seen the last of Cat Stevens.
Why We Are Still Talking About Cat Stevens in 2026
It’s not just about the age or the nostalgia. It’s the fact that his songs like "Father and Son" or "Peace Train" feel weirdly prophetic in today's world. There’s a timelessness to his work that spans generations. My younger cousins know his stuff from TikTok trends, while my parents still have the original vinyl of Teaser and the Firecat tucked away in the attic.
He actually made a full-blown return to secular music around 2006 with the album An Other Cup. Since then, he’s been bridging the gap between his two identities. He even started using the "Yusuf / Cat Stevens" moniker on his records to make it easier for old-school fans to find him.
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A Quick Look at His Career Phases
- The 60s Pop Era: Hits like "I Love My Dog" and "Matthew and Son." He was the "Artist Boy" with the sharp suits.
- The 70s Folk Peak: This is the era of "Wild World" and "Morning Has Broken." Pure acoustic magic.
- The Silent Years: From 1979 to the early 2000s, he focused on education and humanitarian work, founded schools in London, and was largely absent from the charts.
- The Modern Revival: Starting with his 2006 comeback, leading up to his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2014 and his most recent studio album, King of a Land, in 2023.
What Most People Get Wrong About His "Retirement"
There’s this common misconception that he stopped being creative during his time away from the spotlight. That’s not really true. He was still incredibly active; he just pivoted his energy. He founded the charity Muslim Aid and spent decades building a network of faith-based schools.
The controversy surrounding his comments on Salman Rushdie in 1989 is often what people bring up when they want to "cancel" his legacy. It’s a complex, messy piece of history. Yusuf has spent years clarifying those remarks, stating he was "cleverly framed" by leading questions and that he never actually supported the fatwa. Whether you buy that or not, it’s a significant part of why his story is so much more nuanced than your average rock star biography.
What's Next for the 77-Year-Old Legend?
Even though the 2025 North American book tour was cancelled due to those "befuddling" visa issues, Yusuf is clearly still in the game. He completed a successful run of dates in the UK and Ireland in September 2025, ending with a standing ovation at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
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His memoir Cat On The Road To Findout is out now, and it’s probably the most honest look we’ll ever get into his head. It covers the "glamorous chaos" of the 60s and his spiritual shifts in a way that doesn't feel like a typical "tell-all" book.
If you want to stay updated on what he’s doing, the best move is to check his official site or his social media. He’s surprisingly active there. Despite being 77, he’s still using his platform to talk about peace and unity, proving that some things—like a good melody and a message of hope—don't really have an expiration date.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Pick up the Memoir: Cat On The Road To Findout is the definitive source for his side of the story.
- Listen to 'King of a Land': His 2023 album proves his voice hasn't lost its warmth.
- Check for Reissues: He has been meticulously remastering his 70s catalog for 50th-anniversary editions, which sound incredible on modern setups.