They love and hate each other — in music and in life — and as they’ve both admitted, for better or worse, they will always be in each other’s lives. Few relationships in the history of popular music have been as intense, painful, and inspiring as that of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. What began as a young, creative love story in the late 1960s evolved into decades of conflict, brilliant collaborations, and very public resentments.

Now, in 2025, the surprising news of an amicable reconciliation between the two has reignited public fascination with this legendary — and complicated — partnership. You read that right. The cryptic exchange of posts between them suggests they’ve made peace and… who knows, might even return to the stage together?

Stevie wrote, “If you move forward,” and Lindsey replied, “I’ll meet you there.”

The beginning: love, ambition, and music

Stevie and Lindsey met as teenagers at Menlo-Atherton High School in California. She was singing “California Dreamin’” at a school event, and he accompanied her on guitar. Soon after, they joined a band called Fritz, which opened for big names like Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane. Their friendship turned into romance, and they eventually became the duo Buckingham Nicks.

Their 1973 self-titled album didn’t chart, but it caught the attention of Mick Fleetwood, who invited them both to join Fleetwood Mac. Stevie and Lindsey’s addition would forever alter the band’s fate — and begin one of the most dramatic chapters in rock history.

“Rumours” and the breakdown of their relationship

By the time Rumours was recorded in 1976, Stevie and Lindsey had already broken up. But they were trapped in a cycle of creative closeness and emotional distance. Lindsey was still bitter about the breakup, and Stevie had become romantically involved with Mick Fleetwood — something that only added to the tension.

The songs they wrote during that time formed the emotional core of the album. Lindsey’s “Go Your Own Way” was bitter and accusatory, while Stevie responded with “Dreams,” a reflective song about moving on. Rumours was a massive success, but it came at the expense of the creators’ emotional well-being.

The ’80s and ’90s: solo careers, distance, and silence

In the following years, they remained in the band together but became increasingly distant. Stevie Nicks launched her solo career in 1981 with the acclaimed Bella Donna, which sparked jealousy and tension with Lindsey. She also battled drug addiction, entering rehab for cocaine and later for tranquilizers.

In 1987, during the Tango in the Night tour, their relationship exploded. Stevie and Lindsey had a fierce argument — reports suggest that Stevie threw something at him and he shoved her against a wall. Days later, Lindsey quit Fleetwood Mac.

Throughout the ’90s, they collaborated sporadically but mostly kept a cold distance. Their relationship had frayed, and public comments were minimal and tense.

Reunions: The Dance and the Nostalgia Boom

In 1997, the classic Fleetwood Mac lineup reunited for the live special The Dance, which reignited interest in Stevie and Lindsey as a creative duo. The show was a success, and the looks exchanged between them on stage sparked endless speculation from fans. Professionally, at least, they had called a truce. And from that fragile peace came the inspiration for Daisy Jones & The Six.

But the peace didn’t last. In 2003, during the Say You Will tour, creative and personal tensions resurfaced. Stevie gave interviews calling Lindsey controlling, while he criticized her “diva behavior.”

Still, they continued performing together until 2018 — through jabs, smiles, and undeniable creative chemistry.

The final split in 2018 — and public fallout

The final rupture came in 2018. Just before a planned Fleetwood Mac tour, Lindsey Buckingham was fired from the band. The official reason given by Mick Fleetwood was a scheduling conflict, but it soon became clear that Stevie had issued an ultimatum: she wouldn’t tour if Lindsey stayed.

In later interviews, Buckingham said he felt betrayed and never imagined Stevie would actually “fire” him from the band. He hinted that she resented him for getting married (to Kristen Messner in 2000) and starting a family. Stevie, for her part, said Lindsey’s behavior behind the scenes — particularly during a 2018 awards ceremony speech where he mocked her — was the last straw.

“It got to a point where I just didn’t want to be in an environment where I felt diminished and disrespected,” she told Rolling Stone.

Christine McVie’s death and the beginning of a thaw

The death of keyboardist and vocalist Christine McVie in November 2022 deeply shook the Fleetwood Mac circle. Stevie Nicks posted a heartfelt letter calling Christine her “best musical friend” and stating that nothing would ever be the same again.

Lindsey also shared a moving tribute, expressing sorrow — and perhaps guilt. With Christine’s passing, it seemed that both Stevie and Lindsey realized time was running out, and perhaps old grudges weren’t worth it anymore.

Sources close to the band revealed that Stevie personally messaged Lindsey for the first time in years, thanking him for his words about Christine. He responded kindly, and the exchange grew into a conversation. A quiet reconciliation had begun.

2024–2025: a new beginning?

In May 2024, rumors began circulating that the two were back in regular contact. Lindsey quietly attended one of Stevie’s solo shows in Los Angeles. He didn’t go on stage, but the two were seen chatting backstage, and a photo of them smiling together surfaced on social media.

In April 2025, Stevie made a surprising statement in an interview with Variety: “Lindsey and I talk every week now. We laugh about things that used to make us cry. I think we’ve finally found peace.”

Lindsey recently posted an old photo of the two of them in the studio on Instagram, captioned: “Some connections are eternal, even when they weather storms.”

What’s next?

The question all fans are now asking is: Will we see Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham on stage together again? There are no confirmed plans for a collaboration, but the door seems open.

More than a musical reunion, their reconciliation represents a rare example of true — and late — forgiveness. They won’t go back to being the couple they once were, but perhaps they are now something deeper: two souls who survived the chaos they created together.

A long arc is finally complete

The relationship between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham is almost mythic. It inspired some of rock’s greatest songs, shaped classic albums like Rumours and Tusk, and fascinated generations with its mix of love, resentment, genius, and pain.

Now, with decades of history, loss, and maturity behind them, the two seem to have laid down their arms. In the end, Stevie and Lindsey’s greatest legacy may not be musical but emotional: proof that even the deepest wounds can heal — with time, empathy, and, perhaps, a little rock and roll.