Stevie Nicks Praises 'Lovely' Michael J. Fox amid His Parkinson's Journey: 'He Just Keeps Going' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Tracy Pollan, Michael J. Fox and Stevie Nicks attend the MJFF’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s gala on Nov. 16, 2024.Photo:Taylor Hill/WireImage

Taylor Hill/WireImage

Stevie Nicksis supporting an important cause and giving props to the “lovely"Michael J. Fox.

On Saturday, Nov. 16, the 76-year-oldFleetwood Macmusician stepped out in New York City for The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s yearly A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s gala, where she performed a few songs and raved about Fox — all while helping to celebrate his foundation’s ongoing dedication to Parkinson’s aid with research.

“He is here tonight. And he just keeps going,” Nicks told PEOPLE of Fox, 63, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991 andwent public with his diagnosis in 1998. “He got this pretty early. A long time ago. He’s had an amazing career, and he is the face of this. And when they asked me if I wanted to do this, I said of course I want to do it, you know?”

“He’s such a lovely guy. He could have just given up on all this kind of thing a long time ago and he didn’t,” she added of his efforts, as Fox developed the MJFF in 2001. “And that’s so magical.”

Stevie Nicks (left); Michael J. Fox.Noam Galai/Getty; Terry Wyatt/Getty

Noam Galai/Getty; Terry Wyatt/Getty

Speaking with PEOPLE, Fox opened up at the event about maintaining hissense of humor, and how he works to ensure that it always shines through. As he explained, maintaining a darker sense of humor is actually “hard for me,” adding, “I gotta keep it intact.” He also called his foundation’s latest event “so exciting."

“I can’t believe — a lot of these people I’ve known for years and years — they’re so kind to me,” he said. “I think because they see an opportunity for a win, for a big advancement, and that’s what we’re working toward.”

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Stevie Nicks, Maggie Rogers and Michael J. Fox perform at the MJFF’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s gala on Nov. 16, 2024 in New York City.Noam Galai/Getty

Noam Galai/Getty

The annual gala has raised $116 million toward Parkinson’s disease research so far, with the foundation raising $2 billion total since its inception. Fox previously explained toCBS Morningsduring a 2023 interview that his efforts seek to give a voice to the voiceless.

“They didn’t have money, they didn’t have a voice, and I thought, I could step in for these people and raise some hell,” Fox said on the morning show. “It’s not a cure. But it’s a big spotlight on where we need to go, and what we need to focus on so we know we’re on the right path, and we’re very proud.”

The MJFF’s latest gala in N.Y.C. comes just months after their Nashville-basedA Country Thing Happenedon the Way to Cure Parkinson’s event in April, which featured appearances fromSheryl Crow,Little Big TownandJason Isbell.

source: people.com