Joe Walsh Opens Up About His Relationship With Stevie Nicks

When Joe Walsh appeared on The Howard Stern Show on June 4, 2012, he let the world in on a rock-and-roll love story many didn’t even know existed.

Joe and Stevie Nicks—two music legends—once shared a powerful and private romance. Stern was surprised:

“I was shocked to learn though in your life one of the great romances was Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac.”

It had mostly stayed under the radar, even during their “whacked out years,” but their bond was real. “She says you were the love of her life,” Stern noted. Joe smiled and replied:

“She’s special.”

Music, Love, and a Little Chaos

Stevie and Joe didn’t just fall in love—they created music together. She helped him shape the Confessor album. Joe shared:

“She rode shotgun with me on that one and gave me some direction.
“She’s really good at the craft of songwriting… sitting down and really putting a pen to paper.”

Their time together was filled with passion, creativity, and, yes, some turmoil. “We were seeking refuge kind of in each other’s presence… we were both lonely,” Joe admitted. While their feelings were real, both were struggling with addiction. Still, Joe recalled:

“We were both monogamous for that summer.
“That’s a pretty long time… in rock and roll, that’s 10 years.”

A Love That Couldn’t Last

Despite the deep connection, they never talked about marriage. “No, you never thought that way,” Joe said. They were both touring, chasing careers, and wrestling personal demons.

“I don’t think either of us could have committed to a lasting relationship in the state that we were in.”

Once the tour ended, so did the romance. “When we stopped touring, we drifted apart. I had to,” he said quietly.

Still Soulmates

Even now, Joe has deep admiration for Stevie. “She’s like a soul mate,” he said. And though their relationship didn’t last, it clearly left a mark on both of them. She once said all her songs from that time were about him—proof that some love stories never fully fade away.