Not only is Stevie Nicks an incredible American singer and songwriter, but she also became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice—as a member of Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. Her award nominations and wins, including Grammy Awards, reflect her talent and symbolic lyricism.
Born in 1948 in Arizona, her love of music goes back to early childhood, when she was gigging at local gin mills with her grandfather, a would-be country star who taught her to sing and play guitar.
“It was my 16th birthday - my mom and dad gave me my Goya classical guitar that day. I sat down, wrote this song, and I just knew that that was the only thing I could ever really do - write songs and sing them to people,” she once explained.
Although she attended San Jose State University, where she majored in speech communication, she decided to drop out in 1968 to pursue her music career. As her parents cut all financial support, she had to wait tables and clean houses—but it didn’t stop her.
In 1975, along with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, she signed on with the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac and helped turn the group into an overnight sensation.
After a great run with the band, she decided to go solo in 1981. Her debut solo album “Bella Donna” reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard and received platinum certification within months of its release, selling almost 5 million copies. Her subsequent celebrated music releases established her as a top-tier solo artist.
Unfortunately, her stressful lifestyle also led her to develop a drug problem. She eventually overcame it by taking some time off and undergoing treatment for her addictions.
When the members of Fleetwood Mac reunited in 1997, their tour “The Dance” was a huge hit and gave her the confidence she needed to continue doing what she did best.
Throughout the course of her five-decade career, she has produced more than 40 ‘Top 50’ hits and sold over 140 million albums, making her one of the most successful musical artists of all time.