Harry Styles surprised fans by joining Stevie Nicks on stage at a London concert Friday evening to commemorate the Fleetwood Mac singer’s former bandmate, Christine McVie. The duo duetted on two of Nicks’ most popular songs, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” and “Landslide,” to celebrate what would have been McVie’s 81st birthday. Nicks told the diligently listening crowd at BST Hyde Park, “At the end of the show, since the end of last year and since Christine passed away, I would say something about her, and I asked Harry to do this with me and it’s a lot to ask someone to sing a heavy song about a best friend that died so suddenly and so sadly.”
Stevie Nicks continued her message to the crowd, saying, “What I want to say to you is that Christine was Harry’s girl, she was my girl, she was your girl, and she loved all of you, and today would’ve been her birthday.” Despite the emotional weight of the moment, Styles kept his composure as Nicks held his hand while speaking about McVie. He wore a blue suit with an embroidered songbird pin, paying homage to Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird,” which was sung by McVie.
Ahead of the duet, Nicks expressed to the fans how much their support has helped her cope with the sudden loss of McVie. She shared a childhood memory of her mother telling her, “When you’re hurt, you always run to the stage.” Nicks reflected on how performing has been her way of dealing with grief since McVie’s passing. McVie unexpectedly died in November 2022 at age 79, with the cause being an ischemic stroke and cancer found in her body.
Following McVie’s passing, Harry Styles paid tribute to her by performing “Songbird” during a concert in Chile in December 2022. The emotional moment was a nod to the iconic musician, with Styles blowing a kiss to the air and saying, “Thank you, Christine.” Nicks, who called McVie her best friend since the beginning of 1975, shared a handwritten note online expressing her regret at not being able to say goodbye in person.
The tribute performance by Stevie Nicks and Harry Styles was a touching way to honor the memory of Christine McVie. The emotional connection between the artists and the audience served as a beautiful reminder of the impact McVie had on those around her. Through music and shared memories, her legacy continues to live on in the hearts of those who loved her.