Stevie Nicks pens emotional tribute to Fleetwood Mac bandmate Christine McVie following her passing

Stevie Nicks has led the celebrity tributes to Christine McVie following the tragic news that she passed away, aged 79, after a short illness.

Taking to her social media, the 74-year-old singer posted an emotional handwritten tribute to her "best friend in the whole world."

"A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away," Nicks wrote.

"I didn't even know she was ill... until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London; I wanted to get to London - but we were told to wait."

Nicks said that as she waited, a song swirled around and around in her head - 'Hallelujah,' by the band Haim, about the death of a best friend.

"I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so, I’m singing it to her now."

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As well as working with Fleetwood Mac, McVie also released three solo albums.

In 1998, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Fleetwood Mac.

McVie died Wednesday morning in hospital, where she was surrounded by family and friends.