McVie passed away "peacefully at hospital this morning, Wednesday, 30 November 2022, following a short illness. She was in the company of her family," according to a statement. "We would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally."

"There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie," Fleetwood Mac added in a separate statement. "She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure. She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life. We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed."

McVie’s Fleetwood Mac bandmates Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood also penned their own individual tribute posts, as did scores of other musicians who found inspiration in her work. 

Born in Lancashire, England in 1943 as Christine Perfect, McVie came up in the UK’s fabled blues scene of the 1960s and had her first taste of success as part of the band Chicken Shack. In 1968, she married Fleetwood Mac’s John McVie, though they would divorce in 1976. In 1969, she left Chicken Shack, and in 1971, she joined Fleetwood Mac, where she would elevate the quality of the musicianship while providing some much-needed stability.

Before McVie left the band in 1998, she wrote dozens of their best-known songs, eight of which ended up on Fleetwood Mac’s Greatest Hits album in 1988. 

She wrote or co-wrote Say You Love Me, Over My Head, You Make Loving Fun, Songbird, Everywhere, Tango in the Night, Hold Me, Skies the Limit and I Do, in addition to countless others.

COS/Alex Young and Wren Graves