Stevie Nicks' Legendary Life in Photos
Stevie Nicks' Legendary Life in Photos
Rockstar. Rule-breaker. Raspy-voiced goddess. These are just a few of the words used to describe Stephanie Lynn Nicks, known the world over as Stevie Nicks. From her breakout days as a leading lady of Fleetwood Mac to her successful solo career, Nicks has churned out an impressive catalog of hits, including "Landslide," "Edge of Seventeen," and "Dreams," to name a few. Not to mention, her recent turn on American Horror Story and even a viral bout on TikTok stand alongside the legacy of her music, reintroducing the talented Nicks to one generation after another. She's the actual embodiment of a living legend, so let's explore the storied life of one of the best-selling musical artists of all time: Stevie Nicks.
1974: A star is born
Stephanie Lynn Nicks was born May 26, 1948, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Jess, a corporate executive, and Barbara Nicks. She attended Arcadia High School in Arcadia, California, where she joined her first band and met her Fleetwood Mac bandmate Lindsey Buckingham.
1974: Joining Fleetwood Mac
After Stevie rocked out for a bit with guitarist Lindsey Buckingham in various acts, the two were invited to join Fleetwood Mac in 1974, and the band released a self-titled album, Fleetwood Mac, in 1975. The record hit the number one spot on the U.S. charts and produced multiple hit singles, including "Over My Head" and "Rhiannon."
1975: Stevie in studio
The American rocker's distinctively dreamy vocals feature a signature raspy flare that made her a stand out frontwoman of Fleetwood Mac and turned her into a mainstream star.
1977: A breakout hit
Nicks has landed on the Billboard Hot 100 charts a number of times, but the talented singer-songwriter first grabbed the top spot with the 1977 classic "Dreams," which she penned and performed for Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album.
In 2020, nearly 45 years after the song's initial debut, "Dreams" re-entered the charts, landing (again) at the number one spot thanks to a viral TikTok featuring the famed tune.
1977: Famous friends
Here, Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart chat on the couch at a New York City club circa 1977. The two later went on to share the stage together on their Heart & Soul Tour in 2011.
1977: Grammy Award Winner
Nicks, along with the entire Fleetwood Mac crew, brought home two Grammy Awards in 1977 for Album of the Year for Rumours. Throughout her career, Nicks has been honored with five Grammy nominations.
1979: Signature style
The "Gypsy" singer always stood out among her fellow rockers. Why? Aside from her dreamy vocals, her top hat was a unique and notable stamp. In a 2011 interview with Harper's BAZAAR, Nicks revealed, "I found a top hat at a thrift store in Buffalo, New York, on our first tour, and I loved it... Now I have several. It really became part of my look."
1980: Best-selling records
Between her solo work and Fleetwood Mac titles, it should come as no surprise that Nicks' album catalog has sold millions of records worldwide. Her greatest feat? Rumours, which alone has sold over 45 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.
In 2020, Nicks sold the copyrights to just some of her music catalog for a jaw-dropping $100 million.
1980: Even icons get stage fright
No one is safe from getting a little bit of stage fright, not even Stevie Nicks herself. The songstress was once quoted saying, "If you have stage fright, it never goes away. But then I wonder: is the key to that magical performance because of the fear?"
1981: Flying solo
In 1981, while still performing with Fleetwood Mac, Stevie pursued solo endeavors with the release of her debut solo album Bella Donna in July of 1981. The multiplatinum album featured hits such as "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," "Leather and Lace," and "Edge of Seventeen." Since then, she has gone on to release eight solo studio albums.
1982: Famous homages
Many artists over the years have sampled Nicks' songs, spinning them into new favorites. Recent examples include "Bootylicious" by Destiny's Child in 2001 and "Midnight Sky (Edge of Midnight)" by Miley Cryus in 2020 - both of which sampled the 1981 classic "Edge of Seventeen."
1983: Stevie says 'I do'
In 1983, the pop-rocker married Kim Anderson, the widow of a friend of Nicks. However, the marriage was short-lived, and the duo divorced just a few months later.
Here, Stevie Nicks and her husband (of the time) Kim Anderson arrive at the 10th Annual American Music Awards.
1986: Time for change
After many years of living the rock 'n roll lifestyle, Nicks hit a roadblock as the years of hard partying and cocaine abuse caught up to her.
In 1985, she checked herself into rehab, where doctors prescribed her medication that, as she described, was "worse than brandy, coke, pot, and cigarettes combined. I had no energy. I lost my fire. I'd perform now and then, but mostly I sat on the couch, watched TV, and ordered Jerry's Deli."
However, out of the darkness came the light and the singer bounced back into a healthy lifestyle following another stint in rehab in the mid-90s.
1990: A trendy rocker
Like any rockers to come out of the '80s, Nicks wasn't afraid to sport big hair to match her big vocals.
2006: A legendary collaborator
Throughout the course of her storied career, Nicks has shared the stage with a number of other A-list talents, performing with Tom Petty, Harry Styles, Cyndi Lauper, and Miley Cyrus, to name a few.
2013: Stevie on TV
The Grammy Award-winning performer garnered attention from a new generation of fans when she showed off her on-screen talents appearing on two seasons of Ryan Murphy's Emmy-favorite show, American Horror Story.
The actress-singer played a loose version of herself, portraying a witch in American Horror Story Coven (2013) and American Horror Story Apocalypse (2018).
2018: It's all about the costume
Stevie's signature bohemian style most notably includes her affinity towards shawls, allowing her to visually flow onstage as freely as her music.
2019: Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Like a true legend, Nicks was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2019, where she performed on stage at the Barclays Center on March 29, 2019, in New York City.
She holds the title of being the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice. The songstress first received the honor in 1998 as a member of Fleetwood Mac.
Explore the life of a living icon.