Quote Of The Day By Rod Stewart: 'I Wanted To Be ...'

Rod Stewart is the true definition of a once-in-a-generation talent. Born Roderick David Stewart on January 10, 1945, in London, England, the eclectic singer-songwriter got his start performing with several bands, including the 5 Dimensions, the Jeff Beck Group, and the Faces, before his solo career took off in the early 1970s. He scored several hits throughout the decade that defined his catalog, including "Maggie May," which started as an overlooked B-side but helped make 1971 the best year for his career, "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)," and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"

Stewart is one of best-selling artists of all time, with millions of records sold around the world and four No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart under his belt. He didn't always dream of becoming the cheeky, dazzling singer decked out in cheetah print we know him as today, though. In fact, today's quote of the day reveals he had different plans for his life as a kid that had nothing to do with entertainment.

"I wanted to be a footballer. I hated singing and getting up in front of crowds."

Rod Stewart revealed this interesting fact during a 2012 interview with his then-7-year-old son for a Redbook piece. We learn several fun facts about the iconic singer in this light-hearted read, like how creating model trains is his favorite hobby and if he needed to dress up as someone for a costume, it would be none other than ... Britney Spears.

Fun facts aside, it's shocking that Stewart once hated the idea of performing, considering he built his dynamite career by entertaining the masses. In that same Redbook interview, he said his love for performing progressed as he kept at it, but it's wild to hear how someone with such talent like Stewart could have possibly hated it at all. 

Not everyone's path is clear from the start, though, and before Stewart took the music world by storm, he was a British kid with a love for soccer (or football, for our friends across the pond) pursuing a cleat-fueled dream. 

Rod Stewart's quote proves that an unforeseen pivot can lead you to your true calling. Given his charismatic stage presence, theatrical performances, and sheer raw talent, it's easy to assume he was born with the desire to rock out in glitter suits for the rest of his life. Turns out, that wasn't the case. 

Stewart's father got him his first guitar in 1959 when he was 14, but instead of diving straight into music, he chased his teenage dream of becoming a professional soccer player. After a failed tryout with a professional team in 1960, he gradually shifted his focus to music and began one of the most legendary careers in rock 'n' roll history.

It goes to show that we may think we know what we want in life, but fate can have other — heck, even better — plans for us. But, we have to break out of our comfort zones to reap the rewards of that risk. Stewart had to overcome his discomfort with performing in front of crowds to achieve success, after all. Had he decided that wasn't an option and singing simply wasn't for him, we wouldn't have "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" to belt out when we're feeling ourselves, and that would be just devastating, wouldn't it? 

• "Well, there's not a day goes by when I don't get up and say thank you to somebody."
• "I tried to be a footballer, first. I wasn't good enough. Not by a long chalk. And along came music, which saved me."
• "You've got to have this burning desire in your chest to succeed."
• "I've always looked on myself as one of a band and never sought a solo career."
• "I've always been able to get inside a song really easily, and if it's my song I can make it seem honest."