DIXIE CHICKS

 Dixie Chicks have won countless fans because they deliver the goods time and time again on such an incredible basis. The present members of this three female bluegrass, straight country and pop singers are Natalie Maines (lead vocals), sisters Martie Seidel ( fiddle, mandolin, vocals) and Emily Erwin (banjo, dobro, guitar, vocals). The trio shook up the contemporary country scene in the late 90s with their massive hit Wide Open Spaces on Sony's Monument label. After the rocketing success of Wide Open Spaces--a blend of turn-of-the-century pop and country traditionalism, rather for delivering more of the same, the Chicks chose to up the stake in country radio with a follow-up that was both poppier and twangier than its predecessor, and just plain better too. The Fly in all terms was not perfect, but still it was superhit. "Hello Mr. Heartache," for example, adhered pretty closely to the honky-tonk model of "Tonight the Heartache's On Me." Mostly, though, the record lights out for new territories. "Without You" was driven by an in-your-face string arrangement that was downright fierce, and the rootsy "Sin Wagon" may rock harder--and with more solos--than any mainstream country since Buck Owens held forth. A couple of songs missed the mark, particularly "Goodbye Earl," an abusive-husband murder song that earned a criticism for being anti-male. Still Fly, soared to No.1 spot on the Billboard Charts in September 1999 and spent many months on top of the chart. The first single from Fly, "Ready To Run" appeared on the soundtrack to the Julia Robert-Richard Gere film Runaway Bride.

Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Dixie Chicks debuted their song "I Believe in Love" on the America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon. In 2002, the Dixie Chicks enjoyed the fruits of pop success, with the release of their album, Home. On Home, which they coproduced in Austin with Lloyd Maines, the father of lead singer Natalie Maines, they strip off the star-making gloss of Nashville and get down to the meat of the matter, turning out an acoustic record that gives a big Texas howdy to bluegrass. Home lacks drums and is dominated by very-up-tempo bluegrass and reflective ballads and sold over 6 million copies. Home won four Grammy Awards in 2003 including Best Country Album. Tickets for the associated Top of the World tour often sold out within hours. When the chicks were about to hit the top of the music charts with singles like "Landslide" and "Travelin' Soldier," lead singer Natalie Maines on March 10, 2003 during a concert in London stated that the band was "ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.” She openly declared that does not support President Bush's decision to invade Iraq. The statement brought notoriety for the band which led to final redemption. In September 2005 the Dixie Chicks debuted their song "I Hope" on the Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast telethon following Hurricane Katrina.

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