On October 1, 2023, Stevie Nicks, lead singer of the popular British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, unveiled a secret collaboration with Mattel to an audience of concert-goers at Madison Square Garden. 

As a gift for her 75th birthday, Mattel, the toy company best known for their Barbie dolls, reached out to Nicks asking if she wanted to launch a doll made to look like her. Nicks said she was ecstatic at the offer, but also initially hesitant about the prospect of her own Barbie.

“Would she have my spirit?” questioned Nicks. “Would she have my heart?”

Eventually, Nicks went ahead with the doll, giggling in content as she held it up on stage during the October 1st concert. Nicks explained that the doll connects her past to her current self, commemorating her musical journey from Fleetwood Mac’s breakthrough in 1975 to her solo act today. After Nicks revealed the doll and performed a short skit with her Barbie, she ended the concert by giving the doll to a lucky audience member.

The doll embodies Nicks’ ethereal, witch-like presence. Clothed in the famous robe Nicks wore on the cover of the Fleetwood Mac album Rumours, the doll’s black shawl flows as if Nicks were twirling on stage. Its midnight black boots are a miniature replica of Nicks’ alluring leather platforms that she has worn for countless concerts. The doll’s moon charm necklace, thick blonde mane, and smokey eye makeup represent Nicks’ bohemian spirit and differentiate it from the classic Barbie doll. As a tribute to Nicks’ various musical talents, the doll holds a half moon tambourine in its left hand. 

Released for pre-order hours after the concert, the doll sold out instantly. Stevie Nicks’ status as one of most popular female rock stars of all time made the sales no surprise, but unlike other celebrity Barbie dolls, hers was met with both adoration and backlash.

On the purchase page for the doll on the Mattel website, there were notably frustrated reviews. Most negative comments focused on the fact that the buyers were allowed to purchase ten dolls. 

As with other celebrity dolls, resellers were quick to purchase as many as they could and resell them at three or more times the original price. And unfortunately for heartbroken fans awaiting the doll, no further information has been released by Nicks or Mattel on whether the doll will be sold again.

On a collaboration post between Barbie and Stevie Nicks on Instagram, one disappointed user commented, “Nobody needs 10 Stevie Nicks dolls except scalpers, whose intent is to rip us off. This was unfair to all your collectors like me.”

But whether it is in the hands of overpriced resellers or devoted Fleetwood Mac fans, the Stevie Nicks doll is more than just a plastic toy. It symbolizes Nicks’ life journey from her 27-year-old self to her 75th birthday, encapsulating and commemorating her iconic stage persona.