The Dixie Chicks (their name inspired by the Little Feat song "Dixie Chickens") originate in 1989, when Martie Seidel and her sister Emily Erwin formed the group in Dallas with Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy. They started out on local street corners and clubs. Their 1990 indie-lable debut Thank Heavens for Dale Evans promoted their country singing abilities.

In 1992, the Dixie Chicks slowly began to move to a contemporary sound with their second indie-lable CD Little Ol' Cowgirl. Soon after, Robin Lynn Macy exited the band leaving Laura Lynch as the lead vocals. The remaining trio resurfaced in 1993 with Shouldn't a Told You That. Laura Lynch stuck around for a few months, then left the group.

After Lynch and Macy left, Martie and Emily were left without a lead singer. Lloyd Maines, who worked with the Dixie Chicks on their previous albums, gave them a tape of his daughter's audition tape. Martie and Emily both knew Natalie would fit the missing piece to their band. Natalie Maines soon joined the Dixie Chicks.

In 1997 the Dixie Chicks were signed to Sony Music. In 1998, they released their first major label debut Wide Open Spaces. After the album's advance first single "I Can Love You Better" became the group's first Top Ten hit, both "There's Your Trouble" and the title track went on to top the country charts. Within a year of Wide Open Spaces' release, the record had gone quadruple-platinum, and the Dixie Chicks had become superstars. They were nominated for two awards from the Country Music Association (Best Vocal Group honors and the Horizon Award), which they won both. Additionally, they were named Favorite New Country Artist at the American Music Awards, and Wide Open Spaces earned a Grammy for Best Country Album on its way to becoming the best-selling duo or group album in country music history.

In 1999, the Dixie Chicks released Fly which flew to the top of the Billboard charts.