Stevie Nicks Shared Her Advice for Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera

Though Stevie Nicks first rose to prominence in the mid-70s, she has remained a fixture in the music industry for decades. Many young artists turn to her for advice, and journalists have asked for her opinion on up-and-coming musicians. In 2001, as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera made their meteoric rise to success, Nicks shared her opinion on both young artists. She also offered her advice to them. 

Stevie Nicks has had a decades-long career

Nicks began writing songs as a teenager but began focusing on her music career in earnest after high school. She joined a band with former classmate Lindsey Buckingham. The group rose to modest success in the Bay Area as Nicks took college courses. 

Soon, though, a producer suggested that Nicks and Buckingham attempt to make it as a duo. The pair dropped out of school and moved to Los Angeles to focus on music full-time. After several years of struggling, the duo joined Fleetwood Mac, where they found near-instant success. No matter what her level of fame was, though, Nicks consistently wrote, accumulating an extensive backlog of music. 

She shared her opinion on Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera

By 2001, Nicks was considered a living legend, and many looked to her as a role model. She still had a successful career, even as younger artists began to top the charts. These included Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. Nicks shared her opinion on the young stars.

“If they continue to work as hard as they do now, they’ll probably be around in 20 years,” she told Us Weekly, per The Nicks Fix. “I’d tell them to try to write their own songs because that pays the bills even when you’re not successful anymore.”

She shared her belief in the importance of a long-term plan for success, particularly for two artists who were painted as sex symbols.

“I always thought I’d find something that worked and stick with it,” she said. “In the beginning, people wanted to talk to me about being a sex symbol, and I’d say, ‘Let’s talk about songwriting because that sex symbol stuff doesn’t last.’ If that’s all you’ve got, you’re in trouble. There are so many really cute younger women just dying to take your place, so you’ve got to build a reputation on something else besides how cute you are.”

Stevie Nicks said that she wielded her sexuality in a subtle way

Nicks shared that when she first rose to success, she found subtle ways to use her sexuality.

“I definitely used my sexuality in a certain way,” she told Rolling Stone. “I kind of draped it all in chiffon and soft lights and suede boots. Everybody now is just much more blatant.”

She explained that she always wanted her music to receive more attention than her looks.

“Personally, I think that being a little more mysterious works better, and it lasts longer,” she said. “You should be very careful that you don’t build everything you have around how cute you are or how sexy you are, because, unfortunately, no matter how cute you are or how sexy you are, in fifteen years, that won’t be the most important part of your music. I knew that in my twenties. And I really prepared for that.”