Stevie Nicks honors Tom Petty @MusiCares all-star gala

On Friday night, Stevie Nicks joined a star-studded tribute to Tom Petty, MusiCares’ 2017 Person of the Year. The pre-Grammy event was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Performers included Jackson Browne, Foo Fighters, Don Henley, Nora Jones, The Lumineers, George Strait, and Stevie herself, among many others.

Stevie and Tom performed two of their duets, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (from Stevie’s 1981 album Bella Donna) and “Insider” (from the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 1981 album Hard Promises).

Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty at #MusiCares pic.twitter.com/6gQeycoZmg

— steve greenberg (@steviegpro) February 11, 2017

According to Recording Academy president Neil Portnow, Friday night’s benefit raised $8.5 million for MusiCares, the nonprofit providing a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. During the red carpet event, the organization live streamed on Facebook, sharing personal stories of struggling musicians who benefited from their assistance.

Slideshow photos courtesy of ABCNews Radio, Entertainment Tonight, Dave Fennoy, findspek, Mike Cidoni Lennox, Jen Lowery, Jason Nathanson, Chris Pizzello, Platinum Event, Melissa Ruggieri, and WireImage.

Before the evening’s tribute concert, Entertainment Tonight (ET) interviewed Stevie on the red carpet. Stevie talked about Tom, their duet “Insider,” and Beyonce and her twins.

Interview Transcript

STEVIE: Whenever I get a chance to be with Tom, for any reason at all, I’m always, if I can be there, I’m there, so. And if I get to sing with him, even better. So this is really exciting for both of us.

You know, you made a couple of duets with this guy. I mean, what do you remember most about making those records?

A lot of fun, you know. Well, being in a different band, you know. Coming out of Fleetwood Mac, and going into a solo career, which is when I first met him, so I was really in two bands, you know. And to be able to actually become, for all practical purposes almost a member of a third band, it’s amazing. It’s like, how many bands can a girl be in? But fantastic, you know, and we have such a connection — a singing-Everly-Brothers kind of connection. So that makes working with Tom really not ‘work.’

You know, I know it’s hard to choose, but do you have a favorite Tom Petty song?

Um, you know what? It just depends on the time. It’s like, you know, right now, we’re doing, tonight, we’re doing ‘Insider,’ which is a really beautiful, tragic ballad, you know. So um… And it is tragic and so singing it with him, you know, we remember the tragic days. I mean, we love tragedy ’cause that’s what we write about, you know? So when you can sing a tragic ballad, I mean, as sad as it is, it’s so great ’cause that’s the compassion, you know?

I was going to say, those sad stories, those lyrics make for some great music, right? I gotta ask you about Beyonce, your old Bootylicious co-star, you know? She’s performing at the Grammys this weekend. She’s expecting twins. I mean, how excited are you for her?

I’m so excited for her. I can’t believe she’s expecting twins.

I know, it’s crazy, right?

I know. Well, you know what, that’s it, they’re done! They have three kids, they’re finished!

That’s it, right?

So, yeah, that’s great.

There’s a lot of questions about whether or not she can perform at Coachella. I mean, if there’s anyone who can pull it off, do you think it’s her?

It will be her. I watched her do Glastonbury like three years ago, and I watched it on TV by myself with a really good…in London…with a really good sound system — and just me. And it was just so great, and I always knew she was good, but I walked away from that television show of Glastonbury going like, ‘Wow! This woman did two and a half hours, and she never stopped!’

Can she do it with twins though? Do you think she can pull it off?

Well, I don’t know ’cause I’ve never been pregnant with twins. So I have no idea.

Thank you very much. Have fun tonight.

Thank you.

Reviews

• Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks reunite for MusiCares gala —Patrick Ryan, USA Today
• MusiCares’ Person of the Year tribute features Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Atlanta’s Larkin Poe —Melissa Ruggieri, Atlanta Journal Constitution
• Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers reunite for star-studded Grammy concert —Press Association

Twittersphere

Tom Petty: I wrote this song for Stevie. It's called Insider. It won an award. Nicks: It did not #MusiCares

— Shali (@shaldore) February 11, 2017

That is Ms Stevie Nicks #TomPetty #MusiCares pic.twitter.com/PgNJXTh0je

— Shali (@shaldore) February 11, 2017

Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty duet on Stop Draggin' My Heart Around #MusiCares

— Shali (@shaldore) February 11, 2017

Tom Petty and the Bangles perform Don't Come Around Here No More at #MusiCares benefit. pic.twitter.com/Jes7osUPYp

— steve greenberg (@steviegpro) February 11, 2017

"Wearing sunglasses at night is an honor you earn." @tompetty #MusiCares #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/4YFiy6uEtz

— Patrick Ryan (@PatRyanWrites) February 11, 2017

My hero Tom Petty addresses the audience at the #MusiCares dinner pic.twitter.com/0h2O8eB21E

— miketunnicliffe (@miketunnicliffe) February 11, 2017

Don Henley does justice to Free Fallin' #MusiCares #TomPetty pic.twitter.com/8y29gnhm2s

— Shali (@shaldore) February 11, 2017

Gary Clark Jr. onstage at #MusiCares Tom Petty Tribute in LA. pic.twitter.com/ogcDkmIu3o

— steve greenberg (@steviegpro) February 11, 2017

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