Stevie Nicks: In a candid new discussion, iconic vocalist and lyricist Stevie Nicks opens up regarding her own abortion and its profound impact on the fabled group Fleetwood Mac, contending the band may not have endured had she chosen differently. Her fresh single “The Lighthouse” serves as both a retrospective of her past and a rallying cry for women’s autonomy in America, coinciding with the continuing struggle to restore nationwide abortion protections.
Nicks, now 76 years of age, recounts the emotional turmoil she experienced in the late 1970s when she unexpectedly fell pregnant after a brief relationship with Don Henley of The Eagles, directly after parting ways musically with Fleetwood Mac bandmate Lindsey Buckingham. Despite employing an IUD for contraception, she discovered she was with child while the band rode the wave of success borne by their album Rumours. In an earnest dialogue with Rolling Stone, Nicks affirmed “I cannot be a mother. I am not the sort of woman who would hand my babe over to a nanny.”
Reflecting on her decision to terminate the pregnancy, Nicks explained it was imperative for her career and the band. “Had I carried that child, Fleetwood Mac would have been finished,” she declared. “I wouldn’t have been able to dedicate myself completely to the band, and the entire dynamic would have shifted.”
The inspiration for “The Lighthouse” struck Nicks after the Supreme Court’s controversial decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, igniting her long-simmering passion for speaking out on reproductive rights. “I have always used my music as a platform to tell important stories,” Nicks declared, emphasizing her urgent desire to move and inspire change through her songwriting. The intricate lyrics capture her fervor in advocating for women’s autonomy, warning in intricate poetic verses of the grave consequences of complacency: “They’ll snuff your flame, strip your will, if you don’t roar to take it back.”
Nicks recently delivered a powerful performance of “The Lighthouse” on Saturday Night Live, marking her first appearance on the storied show in nearly four decades. Her raw, heartfelt performance was met with widespread acclaim and emotional response from viewers, reaffirming her long-held influence in the music world.
In a previous interview, Nicks expressed frustration with the narrow judgments surrounding such private matters, stating plainly, “I’d like to know, so are you just a handful of men making decisions for all of us?” She maintains the choice was ultimately her own to make, and she encourages others to stand firm in knowing their truth and standing up for what they believe, regardless of popular opinion.
As she mourns the loss of her dear friend and musical partner Christine McVie, who passed in 2022, Nicks remains focused on amplifying her message and advocating for the issues closest to her heart. She concludes eloquently, “Poets give voice to truths through their words, and no poet should be silenced. This song should spread into the world unhindered to spread its message and may change some minds.”
Stevie Nicks’ “The Lighthouse” stands as a testament to her resilience and lifelong commitment to women’s autonomy, weaving personal experience with a universal appeal that resonates deeply in today’s divisive political climate. As she continues to inspire new audiences, Nicks reinforces her place not just as a musical legend but as a voice of principled change.
