On This Day in 1981: Stevie Nicks Scored a Chart-Topping Solo Album With Help From Tom Petty and Don Henley
via MikeMono's Rare Tom Petty Media / YouTube
A Solo Milestone
On September 5, 1981, Stevie Nicks’ solo album Bella Donna reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. This marked a major milestone, as her debut solo work had thrown her into the spotlight outside of Fleetwood Mac. Bella Donna had been released just over a month earlier, on July 27, 1981.
The album included four hit singles: the duet with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around, which peaked at No. 3; Leather and Lace, her duet with Eagles’ Don Henley, which peaked at No. 6; plus Edge of Seventeen (No. 11) and After the Glitter Fades (No. 32). That strong lineup of singles helped drive album sales, and Bella Donna spent nearly three years on the Billboard 200 chart—from July 1981 through June 1984.
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Collaborations That Lifted the Record
The duets on Bella Donna played a big role in its success. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around was the first single and remains one of Nicks’ most familiar solo songs. Even though it wasn’t written by Nicks, the track made a strong impression thanks to her vocal chemistry with Tom Petty.
Leather and Lace followed, trading emotional vocals with Don Henley. The song’s tender contrast between leather and lace themes resonated with listeners and helped cement the album’s appeal.
These two duet singles helped Bella Donna reach a broader audience, crossing over into multiple radio formats.
Legacy and Impact
Within a few months of reaching No. 1, Bella Donna was certified platinum by the RIAA. Later on, it would go multi-platinum as the album continued good sales.
The album also highlighted Nicks’ ability to bring talented collaborators into her solo work. Along with Petty and Henley, she worked with session players like Waddy Wachtel, Roy Bittan of the E-Street Band, and Donald “Duck” Dunn of Booker T. & the MG’s, plus backing vocals by Sharon Celani and Lori Perry. That blend of strong songwriting, vocal chemistry, and polished production helped Bella Donna stand out in 1981—and it remains a high point in Nicks’ solo catalog.
