In 1989, sisters Martie Siedel and Emily Erwin teamed with bassist Laura Lynch and guitarist Robin Lynn Macy. They were called the Dixie Chickens, after the hit song by Little Feat. They quickly progressed to performing at clubs and private parties. Martie fiddled her way to third place in the National Fiddle Championships, giving the band a needed boost in publicity. Audiences responded immediately to the clean-cut cowgirl image with an exquisite blend of bluegrass, folk and country harmonies. Classic cowgirl came shining through in the 1990 debut, Thank Heavens For Dale Evans.

The band headed toward a more contemporary country sound, evident when Macy left and Lynch became lead vocalist. A second release, Little Ol' Cowgirl, in 1992 reflected this change in direction. Now a trio, the Dixie Chicks released Shouldn't A Told You That in 1993. Shortly after, Lynch left the band and later complained that she was the victim of Erwin and Seidel's desire to establish a more youthful image. Still, the change of personnel and reimaging worked.

A major break came in 1995 when the Dixie Chicks signed on with Sony's Monument label. Natalie Maines of Lubbock, Texas, (daughter of legendary steel guitarist, Lloyd Maines) became the band's lead singer. The addition of Maines triggered a whole new look for the beautiful, blond Dixie Chicks. Country garb evolved into contemporary, sometimes flamboyant wardrobes. The change was nowhere more dramatic than in the Dixie Chicks' mellifluous sound. When Wide Open Spaces debuted in 1998, no one could have imagined its enormous impact. Three songs from the album cracked the Top 10, and two topped the charts. The Dixie Chicks were flying high, not just on country charts, but on the pop and rock charts as well.

With more than 60 percent of their sales going to people under the age of 25, the Dixie Chicks opened country music to a whole new audience, and the group opened doors to endless success. Wide Open Spaces went quadruple-platinum, selling more than six million copies. Almost overnight, the three country girls from Texas were mega-stars, with all the attendant glitz and publicity. Fans loved the music, and so did the voters. In every country music award competition, the Dixie Chicks took center stage, exhibiting sparkling, quirky personalities and unique style.

The Dixie Chicks are definitely not grandma's country band, but even grandma has to love them. Music buyers of all ages flocked to the stores for Wide Open Spaces, and the Dixie Chicks ultimately sold more albums than any country group ever before. In fact, in 1998, they sold more albums than all other country artists combined. At the prestigious Country Music Association awards in 1998, the Dixie Chicks were double winners, capturing Best Vocal Group honors and the Horizon Award for Best New Group. At the American Music Awards, the band won Favorite New Country Artist. In addition, Wide Open Spaces won a Grammy for the year's best country album.

So where do the Dixie Chicks fly from here? Higher than ever with a another album that reflected their growth and a new-found confidence in their abilities. The album, Fly, soared atop the country and pop rock charts. For two straight weeks, the album topped 200,000 in sales, a feat previously attained only by Garth Brooks. In all aspects of their performance - vocals, production and instrumentation - the Dixie Chicks have shown growth. They wrote or co-wrote five tracks and stretched artistically with songs that are away from the norm. "Goodbye Earl" is about an abused wife who, along with her best friend, puts her husband, Earl, out of the picture permanently. In "Sin Wagon," a woman takes a carefree attitude toward her night out on the town. The opening track, "Ready To Run" (also on the Notting Hill soundtrack), has a Celtic flavor.

The excitement over Fly reached Beatle-mania proportions. At Lilith Fair, the Dixie Chicks were overwhelmed with the adoration of that huge crowd. They have graced the cover of Texas Monthly and chatted with the Today Show crew.

In 1999, they captured three awards at the Country Music Awards. In 2000, they won Grammy Awards for Best Country Album for Fly and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group for "Ready To Run," released both on the Fly album and the Runaway Bride soundtrack. All three ladies have tiny chicken feet tattooed on their own feet. Each represents a significant milestone in their career: No. 1 hits, gold and platinum sales, and awards.