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Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter, dies at 79

'She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure,' band says in statement
Christine McVie at 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony
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NEW YORK — Christine McVie, the British-born Fleetwood Mac vocalist, songwriter and keyboard player whose cool, soulful contralto helped define such classics as "You Make Loving Fun," "Everywhere" and "Don't Stop," has died at age 79.

Her death was announced Wednesday on the band's social media accounts. No cause of death or other details were immediately provided.

"She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure," the band's statement reads in part.

McVie was a steady presence and personality in a band known for its frequent lineup changes and volatile personalities — notably fellow singer-songwriters Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie of Fleetwood Mac after winning Grammy Award for 'Rumors' album in 1978
Members of Fleetwood Mac, from left, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood, wearing sunglasses, and John McVie, pose with their trophies at the Grammy Awards, Feb. 23, 1978, in Los Angeles. The group won in the category of album of the year for "Rumours."

During its peak commercial years, from 1975-80, the band sold tens of millions of records and was an ongoing source of fascination for fans as it transformed personal battles into melodic, compelling songs. McVie herself had been married to bassist John McVie, and their breakup — along with the split of Nicks and Buckingham — was famously documented on the 1977 release "Rumours," among the bestselling albums of all time.

Fleetwood Mac, co-founded by drummer Mick Fleetwood in 1967, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The group's many other hit singles included "Dreams," "Go Your Own Way" and "Little Lies."