Of all the women who have come to shape rock history, none are quite like Stevie Nicks. Boasting two Grammy awards, several top 10 entries in the Billboard Hot 100, and two — yes, two — separate inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Fleetwood Mac icon is not only a music legend but a fascinating gal to boot.
From her long love of music to her Destiny's Child collab, here are 13 insane facts about Stevie Nicks.
1
Hall of Famer
“Stevie Nicks is the only woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame TWICE. Once for Fleetwood Mac and a second time for her solo career.”
2
Dreaming On
“The other members of Fleetwood Mac initially 'weren't crazy' about Stevie Nicks' ‘Dreams,’ with Christine McVie even describing it as ‘boring.’ It went on to become the band's only #1 hit.”
3
‘Bella Donna’
Nicks was dubbed ‘the Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll’ by Rolling Stone after releasing her first album, ‘Bella Donna’ in 1981.
4
Purple Rain
“TIL the Prince song ‘Purple Rain’ was originally intended to be a country song and Prince wanted Stevie Nicks to write the lyrics.”
5
Super Superlatives
Not only has Stevie Nicks sold more than 20 million records, but she was also named one of Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
6
Dovey Details
Despite the lyrics of “Edge of Seventeen,” Nicks said she had never actually heard a dove’s cry until around 2020.
7
Call Me
“Stevie Nicks was asked to compose and perform a song for the American Gigolo soundtrack, but her contract with Modern Records prevented her from doing so. Debbie Harry was approached next, and the resulting song was Blondie's #1 hit, ‘Call Me.’”
8
Love of Music
Throughout her childhood, Nicks showed a passion for music, particularly for girl groups. “I listened to lots of Top 40 R&B radio,” she once explained. “I loved The Shirelles and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas; stuff like 'Remember (Walking in the Sand)' by The Shangri-Las." Later, Nicks said her grandfather gifted her "a truckload of records" when she was in elementary school. "There must have been 150 singles: country, rockabilly, some Everly Brothers, a song called ‘Party Doll’ that went, ‘Come along and be my party doll/And I'll make love to you,'" she recalled.
9
Perfect Harmony
By the age of four, Nicks was able to perform duets with her grandfather.
10
Working Hard
“Shortly before joining on with Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks held two waitressing and one cleaning lady job.”
11
Package Deal
“Stevie Nicks didn’t join Fleetwood Mac until 8 years after the band was founded & was only invited because her boyfriend/songwriting partner Lindsey Buckingham refused to become the new guitarist unless they brought her onboard as a ‘package deal.’”
12
Playlist Philanthropy
“Steve Nicks of Fleetwood Mac ha[d] a charity called ‘Stevie Nicks’ Band of Soldiers’ where she personally chose music to be loaded onto iPod Nanos and delivered them to wounded soldiers in Army and Navy medical centers.”
13
Bootylicious Throwbacks
Not only does “Bootylicious” by Destiny’s Child sample Stevie Nicks' “Edge of Seventeen,” but the Fleetwood Mac icon also appeared in the music video for the track.
