Claire Thompson
Laura Lynch, a founding member of the country music group the Dixie Chicks, died aged 65 in a car crash in Texas. Lynch was driving on Route 62 near Cornudas, Texas, when a pickup truck heading in the opposite direction crossed into her lane and struck her truck head-on. The musician, who played bass and sang with the influential all-women country music band from 1989 to 1993, was pronounced dead at the scene.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Laura Lynch |
| Band | The Dixie Chicks (now The Chicks) |
| Date of Death | 23 December 2023 |
| Age | 65 |
| Cause of Death | Car crash |
| Location of Death | Near El Paso, Texas |
| Pronounced Dead By | Nikol Endres, a justice of the peace in the area |
| Tributes | Current band members Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer; Sheryl Crow; Rep. Roger Williams (R-Tex.); The Chicks (official Instagram account) |
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What You'll Learn
Laura Lynch's career and life after the Dixie Chicks
Laura Lynch, a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, passed away in December 2023 at the age of 65. After leaving the Dixie Chicks, Lynch took on a new role as a public relations officer at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. She also pursued creative endeavours, taking up oil painting. In addition, she dedicated much of her time to raising her daughter.
Lynch played a pivotal role in the Dixie Chicks' early success. She co-founded the group in 1989 with Robin Lynn Macy and sisters Martie and Emily Erwin (later known as Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer). The Dixie Chicks initially performed bluegrass and country music, busking and touring the bluegrass festival circuits and small venues for six years.
During her time with the Dixie Chicks, Lynch was the lead vocalist and upright bassist. She co-produced the album Little Ol' Cowgirl with guitarist Larry Seyer, and co-wrote one of the album's songs with Martie. Lynch's distinctive soprano voice drew comparisons to the singing of Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss. Her musical influence extended beyond the Dixie Chicks, as she collaborated with guitarist Larry Seyer and country singer Sharon Gilchrist.
In 1995, Lynch was replaced by Natalie Maines. The change was described as "the passing of the baton," as the group contemplated their future direction and Lynch's potential absence from the road in the years to come. Despite her departure, Lynch's impact on the band's early success was acknowledged and celebrated by the Dixie Chicks, who posted a tribute to her on their Instagram channel.
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The Dixie Chicks' name change
Laura Lynch, a founding member of the country music group the Dixie Chicks, passed away at the age of 65 in a car crash in Texas. The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1988 or 1989. The original lineup consisted of El Paso native Laura Lynch on upright bass, Californian Robin Lynn Macy on guitar, and multi-instrumentalist sisters Martie and Emily Erwin.
In June 2020, the Dixie Chicks dropped the word "Dixie" from their name and became The Chicks. The change followed criticism that the word had connotations of slavery in the United States. The band said they had picked "that stupid name" as teenagers and had wanted to change it for years. They decided to change it when they saw the Confederate flag described as "the Dixie Swastika" on social media in June 2020. The group's statement was: "We want to meet this moment."
The name "Dixie Chicks" was a riff on "Dixie Chicken," a 1973 album by the chooglin' rock band Little Feat. While the band's name was not initially considered repugnant by critics, historians have pointed out that the word "Dixie" is synonymous with segregation and the states of the former Confederacy. The name change in 2020 followed a similar decision by the country group Lady Antebellum, which changed its name to Lady A after acknowledging the word's association with slavery.
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The Dixie Chicks' early years
Laura Lynch, a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, passed away at the age of 65 in a car crash in Texas. She co-founded the group in 1989 with sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (née Erwin), and singer and guitarist Robin Lynn Macy.
The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1988 or 1989. The original quartet consisted of Laura Lynch on upright bass and vocals, Robin Lynn Macy on guitar and vocals, and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer on fiddle, mandolin, banjo, dobro, and vocals. The group started out busking on the streets of Dallas, playing bluegrass and country music, and gradually built a following. They dubbed themselves the Dixie Chicks, a cheeky spin on Little Feat's 1973 song about a Memphis seductress.
In 1990, the Dixie Chicks received $10,000 from Penny Cook, the daughter of then-Texas senator John Tower, to record their debut album. They released their self-produced debut studio album, "Thank Heavens for Dale Evans", on a local independent label. Half of the album's tracks were cover songs, including Patsy Montana's "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" and Jon Ims' "West Texas Wind".
In 1992, Laura Lynch replaced Robin Lynn Macy as the group's lead vocalist. The Dixie Chicks independently released three albums with this lineup before signing with Monument Records Nashville in 1995. That same year, Lynch left the group and was replaced by Natalie Maines. The Dixie Chicks released their first album with Monument, "Wide Open Spaces", in 1998, followed by "Fly" in 1999. Both albums were certified diamond.
In 2001, the Dixie Chicks sued their record company, Sony, for underpayment of royalties, and in 2002, settled the suit privately, gaining their own record label imprint with Sony responsible for marketing and distribution. In 2003, Maines made a controversial comment about the impending invasion of Iraq and President George W. Bush, which triggered a backlash in the United States, including death threats and a boycott of the band's music by country radio stations. Despite the controversy, the Dixie Chicks continued to achieve commercial success, and in 2016, they reunited for a series of tours. In 2020, they removed "Dixie" from their name due to its negative connotations and released their first album in 14 years, "Gaslighter".
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Laura Lynch's cause of death
Laura Lynch, a founding member of the country music group the Dixie Chicks, died aged 65 in a car crash in Texas.
Lynch was driving on Route 62 near Cornudas, Texas, about 70 miles east of El Paso, when a pickup truck heading in the opposite direction crossed into her lane and struck her truck head-on. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Lynch's eastbound Ford F-150 was struck by a westbound Dodge Ram whose driver was attempting to pass another vehicle. The other driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Lynch was a musician who played bass and sang with the influential all-women country music band from 1989 to 1993. She was the only founding member of the Dixie Chicks who was actually from Texas, having been raised on her grandfather's ranch near the Mexico border.
After leaving the Dixie Chicks, Lynch became a public relations officer at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. She also took up oil painting and spent time raising her daughter.
Lynch's former bandmates, Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire, and Natalie Maines, posted a tribute to her on their Instagram channel, expressing their shock and sadness at the news. They wrote:
> "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together. Laura was a bright light. Her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band."
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Tributes to Laura Lynch
Laura Lynch, a founding member of the country music group the Dixie Chicks, died aged 65 in a car crash in Texas. The musician, who played bass and sang with the influential all-women band from 1989 to 1993, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lynch's former bandmates, Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire, and Natalie Maines, paid tribute to her on Instagram, expressing their shock and sadness at the news. "Laura was a bright light. Her infectious energy and humour gave a spark to the early days of our band," they wrote. "Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this sad time."
The Chicks also shared a video of Lynch performing on their official Instagram account, along with a caption that read: "We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and travelling together. Laura was a bright light... her infectious energy and humour gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band."
Musician Sheryl Crow, who has collaborated with the Chicks, commented on their Instagram post: "Feeling your sadness." Texas Representative Roger Williams also wrote: "Sad to hear of the passing of my dear friend Laura Lynch. Laura was a great American and an example of the American dream."
Lynch, the only founding member of the Dixie Chicks who was actually from Texas, was raised on her grandfather's ranch near the Mexico border. She worked as a stockbroker before co-founding the band in 1989. The Dixie Chicks first performed on street corners in Dallas before moving on to "fried-egg jobs". "We would play these Sunday-morning gigs in these barbecue joints, and then they'd either pay us or feed us," Lynch told the Washington Times in 1991.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Laura Lynch, a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, passed away at the age of 65 in a car crash in Texas.
Laura Lynch died in a head-on collision with a pickup truck that was trying to pass another vehicle on a two-lane highway.
Laura Lynch passed away on Friday, December 23, 2023.
Laura Lynch was 65 years old when she passed away.
