Oprah staff contact Ottawa Stevie Nicks Megafan

CBC.ca

Producers for The Oprah Winfrey Show are all ears about an Ottawa man's campaign to share his story about how his favourite singer changed his life.

Matthew Denison e-mailed the show, imploring them to feature former Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks as a guest on the influential TV host's final season.

When Winfrey's staff wrote back to the 30-year-old, saying they were interested and wanted to hear more from him, Denison was thrilled.

"When I e-mailed the producer, I took a picture of myself with all my collection on my parents' dining room table," he said. "Everything that I've acquired thus far in about 11 years that I've been a superfan."

'Inspiring and powerful' songs

It was Nicks's music, particularly her 1986 single Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You, that Denison credits to helping him through low times.

He and his twin brother both struggled with learning disabilities, stuttering, seizures, making friends and landing jobs. But the messages in her songs, he said, helped him carry on.

"A lot of her songs are very inspiring and powerful, and it makes you definitely feel positive about yourself," he said.

Oprah's website has now posted a call-out requesting submissions from Nicks's fans to tell producers about why they'd like to meet the musician.

Together with his older sister, Leanne, Denison has now mounted an online campaign through Facebook to rally more people behind him and his story.