Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks Has 7 Words for Tom Petty That Broke My Heart

By Diane Christiansen January 29, 2018 at 10:05am

The death of music legend, Tom Petty, hit the entertainment community hard. For one long time friend, his death has been devastating.

Legendary band Fleetwood Mac was bestowed with a great honor when the Recording Academy charity, MusiCares, awarded the band as Person of the Year.

This was the first time a band had been given this award.

Recording Academy president Neil Portnow told of Fleetwood Mac’s contribution to music as one of the greatest eternal rock groups.

“Most greatness in music stars with the songs and as composers, they are brilliant and always have been so their repertoire is second to none,” said Portnow.

Those fans who have followed the band’s career would agree. The band was formed in London in 1968 and went on to create such iconic tunes as “Think About Me,” “Hold Me” and “Go Your Own Way.”

Stevie Nicks, frontwoman for the band, accepted the award. In her acceptance speech, she talked about her relationship with her fans and getting older.

Then she paused to talk about her long time friend Tom Petty.

It was an emotional moment as she began by saying that Petty was one of her best friends. She then said seven words that left the audience still.

“My heart will never get over this,” said Nicks. She goes on to talk about how important the MusiCares charity was to Petty and reminds the audience that he had attended and been honored just last year.

In a heartbreaking moment, Nicks talked about Petty’s last tour. She said that he should have canceled it because it was apparent he was ill.

But Petty would always put his fans first and pushed his way through, loving the job of being on stage.

Their friendship began in 1978 when Petty worked on the Bella Donna album with Nicks. They produced the song “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” in a duet they sang together.

In 2014 Petty said of Nicks, “I’ve known her since 1978 and she’s insisted on being in my life. Some of my best musical memories of her are sitting on the couch and just playing the guitar while she sings.”

For Nicks, the loss of her close friend hits hard.

Knowing that Petty’s daughter, Adriana, was in the audience, she added, “He was not only a good man to go down the river with, as Johnny Cash said, but he was a great father, and a great friend. My heart will never get over this.”

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