Stevie Nicks has penned many stellar love songs in her day, but few have been as widely beloved as “Leather and Lace.” This duet with Don Henley transcends the Fleetwood Mac singer’s career. Whether you know it from Bella Donna or have heard it countless times in a karaoke bar, a significant portion of the world is familiar with this Nicks staple.
Two legendary male musicians inspired Nicks to pen this song. One moved her pen, and the other stirred her heart. Learn more about how both Henley and, surprisingly, Waylon Jennings helped Nicks to write “Leather and Lace” below.
Behind Stevie Nicks’ Tender Ode to Don Henley
“Leather and Lace” was commissioned by Jennings for him and his wife, Jessi Colter, to sing. Although the country duo did release a version of the duet, it failed to match the popularity of Nicks and Henley’s version. Nevertheless, we have Jennings to thank for moving Nicks’ pen.
“I worked very hard trying to explain what it was like to be in love with someone in the same business, and how to approach dealing with each other,” Nicks once said of writing this song. “It’s probably the hardest thing in the world to do because it falls out of your hands and into the hands of the world, which tends to want you to not be able to handle it.”
Don Henley
While Jennings got the ball rolling, the emotional core of this song was inspired by Henley. Nicks and the Eagles member were at the tail end of their relationship at the time. Nicks drew on their story for this duet, detailing their experience of finding love with someone in the same industry.
“I have to tell you now that Mr. Don Henley was pretty much responsible for this song,” Nicks once explained. “Because he came over every day and told me to either start over or that I was on the right track, and he made me finish it.”
“Don and I had been going out for quite a while, and, bless his heart, he did sing it with me,” she added. “As fate would have it, it became one of the most special love songs that I would ever write… and remains that, even today, after all these years. All in all, it was an unforgettable experience, as was he.”
Revisit “Leather and Lace” below.
(Photo by Richard McCaffrey/ Michael Ochs Archive/ Getty Images)