Ruby Stewart: What it's like to be Rod's daughter

The 30-year-old Los Angeles-born artist first began working for herself at the age of 18, despite having been offered a record deal at the age of 13.

Her parents, Rod Stewart and ex-model Kelly Emberg, were no strangers to the limelight, but insisted Ruby complete her education first.

Ruby is Rod’s fourth child – and is now known for both modelling and music.

As a member of duet The Sisterhood she supported her dad on the stage of his Greenhous Meadow gig at Shrewsbury FC earlier this month.

Her path to fame began when she graduated from school. She’s been touring with Rod since she was 15 and modelling for Laura Ashley and Vanity Fair since she was 18.

Ruby remains her parents’ biggest fan – stating she owes both of them for her successes. She gives her father and grandmother credit for her voice, as they inspired her to cultivate her ear at a young age.

“It’s been really so much fun to see my parents in their careers. My dad taught me everything I know about music,” says Ruby.

“I love my parents and they’re so very supportive.

“I believe it’s true that you get to choose your parents. I’ve heard people say that before you come to Earth, you choose which parents you have.

“I certainly think I chose mine.”

Like many children of stars, Ruby was often left without her dad while he was on the road but rather than resent his absence, respects the dedication to his craft.

“I could spend my life doing the same,” she says.

Instead of feeling like she missed out, Ruby says her parents inspired her and spurred her on to follow her dreams and travel the world.

Her experience as a ‘tour baby’ is, in fact, one of the many reasons Ruby gets on so well with The Sisterhood bandmate Alyssa Bonagura – as she too was raised by musical parents, with her mum and dad forming part of US country music group Bailie and The Boys.

“When I was a kid, my dad would have to go away for months at a time. I don’t think I ever really understood when I was little,” adds Ruby.

“But now I definitely empathise with him and just how much he loves his job.

“When I was 13, I thought to myself ‘I could do this for the rest of my life’.

“I certainly don’t think I missed out at all. It wasn’t like that.

“I do have to say, whenever dad comes into town to see any of us, he gives us 100 per cent. He makes up for lost time when he’s with us.

“Dad inspired me to want to travel the world.

“Alyssa and I both grew up as tour babies, so we’re actually most happy when we’re touring.”

And though Ruby insists music will always come first, she also considers modelling a ‘hobby’ which can fund her singing career.

“Music can often be a little inconsistent when it comes to money, so modelling helps,” explains Ruby.

“Music always comes first. I can’t actually remember the day I started singing, but my mum says I was around three years old. I’d just walk around humming music.

“I liked a lot of the Broadway shows too when I was younger, such as West Side Story. I loved the concept of combining music, theatre and dance all together.

“I never actually wanted to be a model. I wanted to just stick to the music, but my mum said I should just go for it, even if just for some money.

“I ended up doing modelling for a bit from then on, but music has always been at the forefront. Modelling is more of a hobby.”

In pursuit of a career in music, Ruby formed rock band Revoltaire. They completed an album’s worth of material titled Painted Hour Glass, with Ruby as singer and lyricist. They split up in 2013.

In 2012, she sang a voice-over of Whatever Lola Wants for a Diet Pepsi advert, furthering her reputation as a professional singer.

Ruby founded The Sisterhood with Nashville singer-songwriter Alyssa in 2015. After writing a handful of songs on Alyssa’s bathroom floor during a Nashville snowstorm, the two realized their chemistry and eventually began to record their music.

Within a year The Sisterhood has recorded and produced their first album in Nashville, performed at Milan’s Fashion Week, Miami art Basel and joined Rod to perform at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

On March 13, 2016, The Sisterhood played their first festival at CMC Rocks in Queensland, Australia.

Ruby currently lives in Nashville, where she is writing, recording, and performing with The Sisterhood.

Some girls have all the luck.