In a startlingly candid new interview, legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks has opened up about a deeply personal chapter from her past—one that she believes was a turning point not just for her, but for the fate of Fleetwood Mac. The rock icon revealed that her decision to have an abortion in 1977 was a critical juncture that ultimately saved the band from dissolution.
“I Cannot Have a Child”: Nicks’ Difficult Decision
Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, Nicks recounted how, despite using an IUD for contraception, she found herself pregnant in the late 1970s after ending her tumultuous relationship with bandmate Lindsey Buckingham. The father was Eagles frontman Don Henley. At the time, Fleetwood Mac was riding high on the massive success of their album Rumours, which would go on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Faced with an agonizing choice, Nicks knew what she had to do. “I would say I need a couple of years, and that would break up the band period,” she explained, envisioning the impact motherhood would have on her life and career. “There’s just no way that I could have had a child then, working as hard as we worked constantly.”
I am not the kind of woman who would hand my baby over to a nanny, not in a million years.
Stevie Nicks to Rolling Stone
The singer was resolute in her conviction that becoming a mother at that juncture would have spelled the end for Fleetwood Mac. “They would be done,” she asserted. Nicks went through with the abortion sometime in late 1977 or early 1978.
A Legacy Secured, But at What Cost?
Nicks’ revelation sheds new light on the personal sacrifices that often underpin the glamorous veneer of rock stardom. It’s a poignant reminder of the complex choices women in the public eye—and indeed, women from all walks of life—have long been forced to grapple with.
For Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, 1977 proved to be a watershed year. Rumours netted the band a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1978, with hit singles like “Dreams” (featuring Nicks’ vocals) soaring to No. 1. The album would go on to be heralded as one of the greatest of all time. But behind the accolades and adulation, Nicks was privately contending with the aftermath of her abortion—a chapter that, until now, had remained relatively obscured.
A Voice for Reproductive Rights
Nicks’ disclosure comes at a time of renewed debate over abortion rights in the United States. The Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade last summer has galvanized many in the arts and entertainment world to speak out on the issue.
For her part, Nicks has channeled her own experiences into activism, releasing a new song called “The Lighthouse” that addresses the ongoing fight for reproductive freedom. As she told CBS News, “I tell a good story, so maybe I should try to do something…I was also there.”
I don’t really care if people get upset with me over having decided to get an abortion…My life was my life, and my plan was my plan and had been since I was in the fourth grade.
Stevie Nicks to Rolling Stone
Nicks’ willingness to speak openly about her abortion signals a shift in how public figures are engaging with this long-stigmatized topic. By sharing her story, she offers a powerful testament to the deeply personal nature of reproductive choices—and the far-reaching impact these decisions can have, not just on individual lives but on the cultural landscape as a whole.
A Bittersweet Reflection
As Nicks reflects on her choices and their consequences, there’s an undeniable note of wistfulness—a sense of paths not taken, of alternate futures left unexplored. “My life would have been very different if I had decided to keep the baby,” she mused to CBS News.
Yet there’s also a steely resolve in her words, a clarity born of hard-won wisdom. For Nicks, the decision to terminate her pregnancy in 1977 was an act of self-determination—a choice that, while painful, ultimately allowed her to chart her own course, both personally and professionally.
In sharing her story now, Nicks invites us to consider the complex tapestry of women’s lives—the difficult choices, the sacrifices, the triumphs that are so often hidden from view. It’s a reminder that behind every glossy façade, every soaring melody, there are real people grappling with real challenges. And it’s a testament to the enduring power of speaking one’s truth, even in the face of stigma and scrutiny.
As the debate over reproductive rights continues to unfold, Stevie Nicks’ voice emerges as a clarion call—a reminder of the stakes, the struggle, and the indomitable spirit of women fighting for agency over their own lives. Her story, in all its complexity and candor, stands as a powerful affirmation of the right to choose—and the profound impact that one woman’s choices can have on the world.
