Stevie Nicks Reveals Ultimatum About Fame Her Parents Gave Her
Believe it or not, Stevie Nicks‘ parents could have come between her and her impressive career. At a young age, Nicks discovered her immense musical talents, and in high school she met her future bandmate and lover Lindsey Buckingham. While still in school, they dreamed up a career in music. Nicks said that her parents supported her dreams but wanted to make sure she had a backup plan in case music didn’t work out.
“‘We’re not saying it’s not gonna work, because we think you’re great,’” she revealed that they told her. “And they did; they were so supportive. They said in case — my mom, especially — she said, ‘You know, if you do become very famous, we want you to be able to stand in a room with world politicians and famous writers and famous economists, and we want you to be able to hold your own. We want you to be smart and beautiful and talented, and we want you to have an education.’”
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So, Nicks’ parents gave her an ultimatum. She had to continue to pursue an education while going after her dreams in music. If she quit school, they would not continue to support her financially. Nicks enrolled at the San José State University as a speech communication major and planned to become an English teacher. She spent five years there and was only about six months away from earning her degree. However, Nicks and Buckingham felt like they had to move to Los Angeles to pursue music full time.
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Her parents gave their full blessing, but kept to their word and did not support her financially. Nicks worked waitressing and cleaning jobs while trying to make things work. Nicks and Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac just a few years later, in 1975, and of course, blew up into stardom.
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70s Pop Idols
May 2019
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