Barbara Nicks is the mother of singer, songwriter, and producer Stevie Nicks. Barbara’s daughter Stevie is known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. She is the first woman to have been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: first as a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1998 and then as a solo artist in 2019.
Barbara Nicks: Bio Summary
| Name | Barbara Nicks |
| Date of birth | 12 November 1927 |
| Place of birth | Bisbee, Cochise, Arizona, USA |
| Famous as | mother of Stevie Nicks |
| Died | December 28, 2011 |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Edward Ornal Neppel and Alice June Harwood |
| Spouse | Jess Nicks |
| Children | Stevie Nicks and Chris Nicks |
Who Is Stevie Nicks’ Mother, Barbara Nicks?
Barbara Nicks was born on 12 November 1927, in Bisbee, Cochise, Arizona, United States. Edward Ornal Neppel and Alice June Harwood are the names of her parents. Her father worked as a miner and mechanic. She was reportedly adopted by her mother’s second husband, Auddie Meeks. She is the sister of Edward (Neppel) Harwood and Gary A Neppel.
Barbara Nicks hasn’t shared much about her childhood. Her educational details are not known. She fell in love with Jess Nicks, the man she will get married to. “When I met Jess, I wrote in my diary that this was the man I was going to marry,” Barbara said, describing it as “love at first sight.” Jess graduated from high school, joined the Navy, and served as a Chief Warrant Officer, per a source.
Barbara and Jess got married after dating for some time. The two got married in August 1947, in a beautiful wedding. Barbara was a homemaker. She and Jess became the parents of two children, Stephanie Lynn Nicks also known as Stevie Nicks, and Christopher “Chris” Nicks. Jess became president of Armour-Dial and executive vice president of Greyhound.
Jess Nicks would later become a music promoter after his daughter gained fame as a singer. At a very young age, Barbara and Jess’ daughter Stephanie was unable to properly pronounce her own name. She mentioned her name as “tee-dee”, which led to her nickname “Stevie”. She once said: “I could not pronounce the word ‘Stephanie’ when I was little. My pronunciation of it came out ‘Tee-Dee,’ which turned into Stevie.”
Barbara Nicks was very protective of her daughter Stevie Nicks, keeping her at home “more than most people” and fostering in her daughter a love of fairy tales. The family moved around because of Jess Nicks’ career. Due to his frequent relocation as a vice president of Greyhound, the family lived in Phoenix, Albuquerque, El Paso, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
After living in various cities across the country, Barbara Nicks and her husband Jess Nicks decided to settle in Paradise Valley in the 1970s. Barbara Nicks and her husband Jess Nicks remained married until Jess passed away in 2005 from heart failure at 80 years old. Barbara was a very supportive and devoted mother and wife.
Barbara Nicks was active in several philanthropic activities including St. Judes Children’s Hospital, The City of Hope, Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Salvation Army. She was very supportive of her daughter Stevie Nicks’ career. Stevie is a singer, songwriter, and producer.
ALSO, READ: Jess Nicks: How Did Stevie Nicks’ Father Die?
Today, Barbara Nicks’ daughter Stevie Nicks is successful in her career. She is known all over the world. For her work, she has received eight Grammy Award nominations and two American Music Award nominations as a solo artist. She has credited her mother Barbara for being very supportive. Speaking of her mother Barbara, Stevie said:
“My mom had the power within her to heal and guide so many of us. … She supported me and all of my dreams. She was the one that made it all possible.” Stevie Nicks said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey: “My mother was always totally supportive of me and whatever I wanted to do. Even as a young girl. But she was also very strict with me, and she was hard on me in a lot of ways because she wanted me to be independent.”
What Happened To Stevie Nicks’ Mother?
Stevie Nicks’ mother Barbara Nicks passed away on December 28, 2011, at her home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, after a brief battle with pneumonia. She is said to have died “peacefully” surrounded by friends and family including her son Christopher Nicks, daughter Stevie Nicks and granddaughter Jessica Nicks.
Barbara Nicks was at the age of 84 years at the time she passed away. There was no funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle where a special fund has been formed in memory of Barbara Nicks.
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