Stevie Nicks Finds Comfort in Listening to 'Younger' Artists During Recovery from Shoulder Fracture. Here Are Some of Her Top Picks (Exclusive)

Stevie Nicks returned to the stage in October after delaying several shows earlier this year to recover from a shoulder injury. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the iconic singer-songwriter, 77, opens up about the music she listened to during her recovery and the artists that caught her attention along the way.

During her downtime, Nicks immersed herself in a mix of current bands, saying, I'm all over the internet. I listen to a lot of current bands, naming groups such as The Midnight, The White Kites, and Night Traveler. She explains that music was a vital part of her healing process. All through my recovery, I've listened. That's the one thing I have done physically, is to really enjoy all this younger music I love. When I wasn't feeling well at all, it carried me on a cloud through the whole thing.

Her connection with these new artists came full circle when Night Traveler, one of the bands that inspired her during recovery, opened for Nicks at her Phoenix concert on October 7 one of her first shows back post-injury. The Texas rock duo shared on Instagram that the experience was unforgettable: Turns out the kindness and sincerity of her spirit that she shared with us will be the thing we never forget.

Nicks also shared insights into how she curates her music. All my tapes are really curated by me, she says. Despite not being high-tech, she has started using streaming platforms like Pandora and Spotify, using their thumbs-up and thumbs-down functions to refine her playlists. These personal tapes become a source of inspiration and energy, especially during challenging times. Just to lay in bed and stare at the ceiling is not my idea of a good time, she says. That kept me dancing, just kind of Snoop Dogging around my place, because you can be pretty beat-up, and you can still dance if inspirational music comes on.

Reflecting on the healing power of music, Nicks emphasizes, The power of music to heal you is amazing. If I didn't have those tapes, I don't know what I would have done.

Alongside new favorites, she has also revisited her past work, including the 1973 album Buckingham Nicks, recorded with Lindsey Buckingham before they joined Fleetwood Mac. Re-released in September, it gave Nicks a fresh opportunity to hear it decades later. If you can sit in a big room with great speakers, youll hear things in Buckingham Nicks that none of us have heard since the record came out, she explains. Fans have shared similar experiences, listening at home and feeling as though they were inside the studio with the duo. Nicks adds, There are parts, vocal parts, music parts that I haven't heard in so long that I'm, like, Wow. I would join that band.

Author: Sophia Brooks