Career Timeline of Stevie Nicks: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Stevie Nicks made an impact.

Stevie Nicks, born Stephanie Lynn Nicks, is a highly acclaimed American singer-songwriter. She gained prominence as a key member of the iconic band Fleetwood Mac, contributing significantly to their success with her distinctive vocals and songwriting talents, including hits like "Rhiannon" and "Landslide." Beyond her work with Fleetwood Mac, Nicks has also forged a successful solo career, releasing numerous albums and solidifying her status as a music icon. Known for her mystical stage presence, bohemian style, and powerful performances, Stevie Nicks remains an influential and enduring figure in the music industry.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1968: Fritz opened for Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin

From 1968 until 1970, Fritz, the band Nicks and Buckingham were a part of, opened for Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Nicks credits the two acts as inspiring her stage intensity and performance.

1970: Fritz opened for Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin

From 1968 until 1970, Fritz, the band Nicks and Buckingham were a part of, opened for Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Nicks credits the two acts as inspiring her stage intensity and performance.

1972: Fritz Disbanded

In 1972, Fritz disbanded, so Nicks and Buckingham wrote as a duo, recording demo tapes in Daly City, California, on a one-inch, four-track Ampex tape machine Buckingham kept at his father's coffee-roasting plant.

1972: Buckingham joined the Everly Brothers tour

While living with Richard Dashut in 1972, Buckingham landed a guitar role with the Everly Brothers tour. Nicks stayed behind working on songwriting herself. During this time, Nicks wrote "Rhiannon" after seeing the name in the novel Triad by Mary Leader and "Landslide", inspired by the scenery of Aspen and her slowly deteriorating relationship with Buckingham.

1973: Buckingham Nicks Album Released

In 1973, Nicks and Buckingham secured a deal with Polydor Records, and their eponymous album Buckingham Nicks was released. The album was not a commercial success, and Polydor dropped the pair.

December 31, 1974: Mick Fleetwood Invited Buckingham to Join Fleetwood Mac

On December 31, 1974, Mick Fleetwood called Lindsey Buckingham and invited him to join Fleetwood Mac. Buckingham refused, insisting that he and Nicks were a package deal and that he would not join without her. The group decided that incorporating the pair would improve Fleetwood Mac.

1975: Fleetwood Mac Achieved Worldwide Success

In 1975, Fleetwood Mac achieved worldwide success with the album Fleetwood Mac. Nicks's song "Rhiannon" was voted one of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone. "Landslide" became another hit from the album, with three million airplays.

1976: Began recording Rumours

In early 1976, Fleetwood Mac began recording their follow-up album, Rumours, which continued until late in the year. The band's personal relationships were eroding. Also, Nicks and Buckingham sang back-up on Warren Zevon's eponymous second album.

1977: Rumours tour

After the success of the Rumours album and tour in 1977 to 1978, Fleetwood Mac began recording their third album with Nicks and Buckingham, Tusk, in the spring of 1978. By this time, Nicks had amassed a large backlog of songs that she had been unable to record with Fleetwood Mac.

1977: Rumours was best-selling album

In 1977, Rumours, Fleetwood Mac's second album after the incorporation of Nicks and Buckingham, was the best-selling album of the year. The album remained at number one on the American albums chart for 31 weeks and reached number one in other countries.

1978: Rumours tour

1978: Grammy Award for Rumours

In 1978, Fleetwood Mac won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for their album, Rumours. Stevie Nicks was a member of the band at the time.

1978: Grammy Award for Album of the Year

In 1978, Stevie Nicks, as a member of Fleetwood Mac, won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Rumours.

1978: Rumours won Grammy Award

In 1978, the album Rumours won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

1978: Sang Backup Vocals on Walter Egan's Album

While working on Tusk, Nicks sang backup on virtually every track of Not Shy, recorded by musician Walter Egan, a friend of both Nicks and Buckingham. Nicks also recorded the hit duets "Whenever I Call You Friend" with Kenny Loggins in 1978.

October 19, 1979: Tusk Released

On October 19, 1979, Fleetwood Mac released the album Tusk, their third album with Nicks and Buckingham.

1979: Nicks Founded Modern Records

In 1979, Nicks wrote and recorded demos for a solo project during Tusk sessions and the Tusk world tour. Nicks, Danny Goldberg, and Paul Fishkin founded Modern Records to record and release Nicks's material.

1979: Gold with John Stewart

In 1979, Stevie Nicks recorded the hit duet "Gold" with John Stewart.

July 27, 1981: Bella Donna Released

On July 27, 1981, Stevie Nicks's first solo album, Bella Donna, was released to critical and commercial acclaim, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart, with four singles making the Billboard Hot 100.

November 1981: White Winged Dove tour

In November 1981, Nicks embarked on her White Winged Dove tour, which she had to cut short to record Mirage.

1981: Guest Appearances with Tom Petty

During 1981, Nicks made occasional guest appearances with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on their Hard Promises tour.

1981: Mirage Recorded

Mirage was recorded in late 1981 and early 1982.

1982: Mirage Recorded

Mirage was recorded in late 1981 and early 1982.

June 10, 1983: The Wild Heart Released

On June 10, 1983, Nicks released her second solo album, The Wild Heart. The album went double platinum and reached number five on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

June 1983: U.S. Tour

From June 1983 to November 1983, Nicks toured the U.S.

November 1983: U.S. Tour

From June 1983 to November 1983, Nicks toured the U.S.

December 1983: Saturday Night Live Appearance

In December 1983, Nicks appeared on Saturday Night Live, performing "Stand Back" and "Nightbird".

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1984: Recorded Songs for Mirror Mirror

Following the tour for The Wild Heart, Nicks commenced work on her third solo album. During 1984, she recorded songs for the album originally titled Mirror Mirror. However, Nicks was unhappy with the album, and opted to record a new batch of songs in 1985.

1984: Toured with Walsh and wrote song about Walsh's daughter

In 1984, Stevie Nicks toured with Joe Walsh and wrote the song "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?" about Walsh's deceased daughter.

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November 18, 1985: Rock a Little Released

Rock a Little was released November 18, 1985, to commercial success, supported by three successful singles.

October 1986: Toured for Rock a Little

Nicks toured for Rock a Little until October 1986 and performed with Bob Dylan and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers during their tour in Australia.

1992: Silver Springs included on retrospective album

In 1992, "Silver Springs" was included on the four-disc Fleetwood Mac retrospective album 25 Years – The Chain.

2003: Grammy Hall of Fame Award

In 2003, Stevie Nicks received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award.

October 2005: Attended Melbourne Cup Week and launched tour promotion

In October 2005, Stevie Nicks attended Melbourne Cup Week in Australia, where a horse-racing stake was named after her: The Stevie Nicks Plate. She used the opportunity to promote her Australian/New Zealand tour in February and March 2006.

March 2006: Toured in Australia and New Zealand

In March 2006, Stevie Nicks toured in Australia and New Zealand with John Farnham.

October 2006: Performed at Bette Midler's Hulaween benefit

In October 2006, Stevie Nicks was the featured performer for Bette Midler's benefit function, Hulaween.

2008: Soundstage Sessions tour in the U.S.

In 2008, Stevie Nicks embarked on the Soundstage Sessions tour in the U.S.

March 20, 2011: Heart & Soul Tour launched

On March 20, 2011, Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks launched the Heart & Soul Tour in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, uniting the two singers for a series of arena concerts throughout North America.

August 9, 2011: Solo tour for In Your Dreams began

On August 9, 2011, Stevie Nicks' solo tour for In Your Dreams began in Denver, Colorado.

December 2011: Australian and New Zealand leg of the In Your Dreams tour

Until December 2011, Stevie Nicks continued on an Australian and New Zealand leg of the In Your Dreams tour accompanied by Dave Stewart.

June 2012: Resumed In Your Dreams tour

In June 2012, Stevie Nicks resumed the In Your Dreams tour.

2017: Rumours sales

As of 2017, Rumours had sold over 45 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.

December 13, 2018: Induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

On December 13, 2018, Stevie Nicks was announced as one of seven inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2019, making her the first woman to be inducted twice to the hall.

2023: Series of concerts with Billy Joel

In 2023, Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel performed a series of concerts across the United States, starting with SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles on March 10, in conjunction with a solo tour.