Last Friday (January 17), the Eagles performed their first show of 2025 at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Fans who attended the show were instantly aware that the band’s lineup had altered. Steuart Smith, the band’s longtime guitarist, did not appear onstage. Instead, Dallas, Texas-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Chris Holt took his place.
Smith was diagnosed with Parkinsonism, which prompted the lineup change. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Parkinsonism “is a term used to describe a collection of movement symptoms associated with several conditions, including Parkinson’s disease.” Slow movements, stiffness, walking and balance difficulty, and/or tremor are some of the symptoms. Symptoms may also include cognitive difficulties, speech problems, and sleep difficulty.
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“It is with profound regret that, due to performance issues associated with my diagnosed Parkinsonism, I find that I much bow out of my role with the Eagles while I can still do so gracefully,” said Smith in a statement. “It’s been a great quarter of a century and I had hoped to be able to finish out this year with the band, but I must now do what’s best for all concerned,” said the singer.
“Steuart Smith has retired from touring,” Don Henley explained in the announcement. “The Eagles will be eternally grateful for the outstanding talents he contributed to both our albums and live performances. Steuart will be deeply missed, but he will always be a part of our musical family. We know our many fans will join us in wishing him well.
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The Eagles Are in Good Hands with Chris Holt.
While the Eagles and their fans are sad to see Steuart Smith leave, Chris Holt is an excellent alternative. He has established and performed in a number of bands throughout the years. Holt has also performed with some of the biggest names in classic rock. According to his website, he has performed alongside Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, the Doobie Brothers, Stevie Nicks, and Ringo Starr, among others.
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He most recently joined Dirty Knobs, a band led by former Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell.
The short footage below shows Don Henley introducing Holt during his first gig with the band.
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