Dixie Chicks

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Dixie Chicks

The Dixie Chicks are an American music group composed of founding members (and sisters) Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines. The band formed in 1989 in Dallas, Texas, and was originally composed of four women performing bluegrass and country music, busking and touring the bluegrass festival circuits and small venues for six years without attracting a major label. After the departure of one bandmate, the replacement of their lead singer, and a slight change in their repertoire, the Dixie Chicks soon achieved commercial success, beginning in 1998 with hit songs "There's Your Trouble" and "Wide Open Spaces".

As of 2015, the Dixie Chicks had won 13 Grammy Awards, including five in 2007 for "Taking the Long Way" - which received the Grammy Award for Album of the Year - and "Not Ready to Make Nice", a single from that album. By December 2015, with 30.5 million certified albums sold, and sales of 27.5 million albums in the U.S. alone, they had become the top selling all-female band and biggest-selling country group in the U.S. during the Nielsen SoundScan era (1991–present).

On March 10, 2003, during a London concert, nine days before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, lead vocalist Maines told the audience: "We don't want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States (George W. Bush) is from Texas", which garnered a positive reaction from the British audience contrasting with the negative reaction, and ensuing boycotts, in the United States, where talk shows denounced the band, their albums were discarded in public protest and corporate broadcasting networks blacklisted them for the remainder of the Bush years. After a touring hiatus, they toured again in 2010, 2013 and 2016.

Press Reports

Nash Country Daily | by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | June 25, 2020

The Dixie Chicks Change Name to «The Chicks»

According to their new website and social media handles, The Dixie Chicks—Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer —have rebranded as “The Chicks.” As of press time, the Chicks have not made a public announcement.

The trio’s name change comes after weeks of social unrest that has put a spotlight on systematic racism and discrimination.

“Dixie” is a reference to the Southern United States, notably the Confederate States during the Civil War. The name came from the title of a song composed in 1859 by Daniel Decatur Emmett, which was a popular marching song of the Confederate Army.

Earlier this month, Lady Antebellum changed its name to Lady A to recognize “those suffering from spoken and unspoken injustices.”

The Chicks will release their upcoming eighth studio album, Gaslighter, on July 17. The Chicks dropped a new song, “March March” on June 25, which you can listen on the right.

Nash Country Daily | by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | March 10, 2020

Dixie Chicks Score Highest Chart Debut in More Than 17 Years With «Gaslighter»

(written by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | published March 10, 2020 9:56 AM category: NCD News | related posts: billboard, Dixie Chicks, Gaslighter)

The Dixie Chicks are back with a bang.

Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks dropped their first single in 13 years with the release of “Gaslighter” on March 4. The new tune, which was co-penned and co-produced by the Dixie Chicks and Jack Antonoff, debuted at No. 36 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. The tally marks the highest debut on the chart for the Dixie Chicks since their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” in September 2002, which debuted at No. 32. According to Billboard, “Gaslighter” is the first song by the Dixie Chicks to hit the Top 30 since Natalie’s comments about President George W. Bush in 2003. “Gaslighter” serves as the title track to the Dixie Chicks’ upcoming eighth studio album, which is slated to drop on May 1. The trio also released a new video for “Gaslighter.” Check out the new clip on the left.

Nash Country Daily | by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | July 5, 2017

Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines Files for Divorce From Husband Adrian Pasdar

Dixie Chicks front-woman Natalie Maines has filed for divorce from husband Adrian Pasdar, according to TMZ.

Natalie and Adrian, who met in 1999 at Emily Strayer and Charlie Robison’s wedding, have been married for 17 years and have two sons together, ages 16 and 12. Adrian is an actor and voice artist whose credits include roles in Heroes and The Lying Game.

Natalie’s rep told TMZ that the divorce is a private matter and they will not comment.

Nash Country Daily | by Lisa Konicki | @LisaKon127 (http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/author/lkonicki/) | August 11, 2016

The Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines Still Not Ready to Make Nice

You could say that the Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines is not a fan of Donald Trump or country radio. The group’s lead singer made her thoughts known on Twitter on Wednesday night (Aug. 10) in a post about Donald and country radio.

«I get banned for not liking Bush and now Trump can practically put a hit out on Hillary and he's still all over country radio! Hypocrites!» 6:02 AM - 11 Aug 2016

You may recall that 13 years ago - in 2003 - Natalie made a

comment about President George W. Bush that wasn’t received too well in the U.S. The trio was performing in

London to kick off their Top of the World Tour when Natalie made a comment regarding the events going on in the world - at the time the U.S. was about to invade Iraq.

Natalie said to the crowd, “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”

When that comment got home to the U.S., a backlash ensued. Conservative country fans destroyed Dixie Chicks CDs and turned against the once popular girl group. Radio stations stopped playing their songs and turned their backs as well.

Looks like Natalie is not over the treatment she received from radio, based on her latest tweet mentioning Donald Trump. That’s not the only tweet the “Goodbye Earl” singer has posted about The Donald. The Chicks have even incorporated Donald into their DCX World Tour MMXVI with a very large photo of him complete with devil horns and goatee. Perhaps she’s trying to bait the Republican Presidential nominee into a twitter war? You be the judge.