Ritchie Blackmore’s wife Candice Night recently addressed concerns about the legendary guitarist’s health and well-being in an interview with Rock Star Interview Channel.
Night’s comments came in response to questions about Blackmore’s current condition, particularly following previous revelations about his heart attack. When asked directly about how Ritchie is doing and whether he’s “in a good place,” Night provided reassuring details about his daily life.
“Yeah. Oh, he’s in the den watching television and having coffee right now. It’s 2:00 in the afternoon. So, this is musician’s morning. He just woke up. He’s live, folks. He’s still there. I don’t have him locked in a cage. I promise you. He’s just enjoying living his best life. He’s playing with the cat. He’s playing his guitar. He’s watching his TV,” Night said.
She also addressed concerns about his age and health challenges with a positive outlook.
“Look, he’s 80 years old. We’re all going to go through health issues, health problems. He’s the youngest 80 years old that you’ll ever see,” she continued.
Night also explained how Blackmore shares information with fans through his “Tales from the Tavern” sessions. She noted that while she received attention for discussing his health, the guitarist had already shared this information himself during these informal Q&A sessions.
The health concerns surrounding the legendary guitarist have had a direct impact on his recent performance schedule and public appearances.
American Songwriter reported that Blackmore’s Night was forced to cancel a number of shows in November 2025 due to health issues Blackmore was experiencing. The cancellations marked the band’s last live performances before the guitarist’s current period of recovery and rest.
Despite the health setbacks, Blackmore recently received significant recognition for his contributions to rock music. Parade revealed that the founding Deep Purple guitarist received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from The National GUITAR Museum. The honor acknowledges his decades-long influence on rock and heavy metal music.
Upon receiving the prestigious award, Blackmore expressed his surprise at the recognition. “I’m rather thrown by the magnitude of this honorable award,” he stated, showing his characteristic humility despite his legendary status in the music world.
The award places Blackmore among an elite group of musicians recognized by The National GUITAR Museum. FOTKAI noted that in 2026, Ritchie Blackmore became the sixteenth recipient of this honor. He joins other legendary guitarists who have shaped the landscape of popular music.
