Jake Harper
On March 10, 2003, Natalie Maines, the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, made a comment about then-US President George W. Bush and the impending invasion of Iraq. This comment, made nine days before the start of the Iraq War, sparked intense backlash and led to the group being blacklisted by the country music industry. The comment and its aftermath continue to be a topic of interest, with questions arising around whether Maines regrets her statement and the impact it had on the Dixie Chicks' career.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of comment | March 10, 2003 |
| Who was being performed for | Audience at Shepherd's Bush Empire theatre in London, England |
| What was said | "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." |
| Who said it | Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks |
| Who was being referred to | George W. Bush |
| What was the context | The Dixie Chicks were performing their cover of "Travelin' Soldier" |
| What was the reaction | The audience cheered, but the comment caused a backlash, including death threats, CD-burning protests, and being banned from the airwaves |
| Did Natalie Maines regret her comment | No, but she admitted she would have liked to have said something smarter |
| Did the comment hurt the Dixie Chicks | Yes, it ended their career as superstars and alienated some fans, but they continued to make music and released a new album in 2020 that topped the Billboard Country Albums chart |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Natalie Maines' comments about George W. Bush
On March 10, 2003, nine days before the invasion of Iraq, the Dixie Chicks performed at the Shepherd's Bush Empire theatre in London, England. The Dixie Chicks' lead singer, Natalie Maines, made a comment that brought their career to a halt. Introducing their cover of "Travelin' Soldier", Maines told the audience:
> 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.
Maines' bandmate, Emily Strayer, added, "But you know we're behind the troops 100 percent." The audience cheered, and a review of the concert in the British newspaper The Guardian reported that "at a time when country stars are rushing to release pro-war anthems, this is practically punk rock."
Maines' comment sparked intense backlash, including people burning Dixie Chicks albums, sending death threats, and organizing protests to hurt ticket sales. The country music industry blacklisted the group, and local radio stations organized CD-burning protests. US conglomerates banned them from the airwaves, damaging their careers. The Dixie Chicks were dubbed "'traitors" and "Saddam's Angels".
Maines initially apologised for her comment, saying it had been disrespectful. However, she rescinded the apology in 2006, stating that she felt Bush deserved no respect. The Dixie Chicks released the single "Not Ready to Make Nice" in 2006, addressing the criticism. They also released a documentary, "Shut Up and Sing", which followed the fallout from the incident.
Despite the controversy, the Dixie Chicks have continued to make music and released a new album, "Gaslighter", in 2020, which topped the Billboard Country Albums chart. The band has cut ties with the country music industry and no longer considers itself part of that scene. Maines has said that she does not regret her comments about Bush but wishes she had said something smarter.
Succulent Drumsticks: The Right Water Quantity for Teriyaki Chicken
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Dixie Chicks' response to criticism
The Dixie Chicks' response to the criticism they received for Natalie Maines' comments about George W. Bush has evolved over time. Initially, the band launched a publicity campaign to respond to the criticism. Maines gave a prime-time interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC, where she stated that she remained proud of her statement. At their first show of the American tour, Maines wore a T-shirt with the words "Dare to Be Free".
However, a few days later, Maines issued an apology, saying her remark had been disrespectful. She rescinded this apology in 2006, saying she felt Bush deserved no respect. In the May 2003 issue of Entertainment Weekly, Maines said that the Dixie Chicks had nothing but support for the troops and did not hate people who supported the war. The rest of the band supported her, saying:
> "Natalie's comment came from frustration that we all shared — we were apparently days away from war and still left with a lot of questions."
In 2006, the Dixie Chicks released the single "Not Ready to Make Nice", which addressed the criticism they received. They also released a documentary, "Shut Up and Sing", which followed the band as they dealt with the public and media scrutiny, including threats of physical harm and death threats.
Despite the backlash, the Dixie Chicks have continued to make music and release albums. In 2020, they released the album "Gaslighter", which topped the Billboard Country Albums chart. While they have cut ties with the country music industry, the band has said they have no regrets about what unfolded, although Maines has admitted that she would like to have said something "smarter".
Stovetop Chicken: Avoid Burning, Cook Perfectly
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Backlash [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81FWS2+8BGL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
The impact on the Dixie Chicks' career
The impact of Natalie Maines' comments about George W. Bush on the Dixie Chicks' career was profound and immediate. The band experienced a swift and intense backlash, including death threats, album burnings, and organised protests aimed at hurting ticket sales. Local radio stations joined the boycott, banning them from the airwaves and effectively hobbling their career overnight.
The Dixie Chicks went from being one of the most popular American country acts and the bestselling female band of all time to facing what band member Martie Maguire described as "unlike anything music had ever witnessed". They were blacklisted by the country music industry, and their relationship with country music was forever changed. The Dixie Chicks themselves likened the incident to the backlash John Lennon received after stating the Beatles were more popular than Jesus.
In the immediate aftermath, Maines issued an apology, but she rescinded it in 2006, saying she felt Bush deserved no respect. The Dixie Chicks remained defiant, with Maines wearing a "Dare to Be Free" T-shirt at their first American tour show after the incident. They also launched a publicity campaign to respond to the criticism, including a prime-time interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC.
The controversy surrounding the band's comments about Bush continued to impact their career trajectory over the following years. Although they continued to make music and tour, they were no longer superstars, and they cut ties with the country music industry. In 2020, they released their first album in 14 years, "Gaslighter", which topped the Billboard Country Albums chart, but they did not promote it to country radio, acknowledging that their relationship with country music stations had changed irreversibly. Despite the passage of time, Maines has admitted that she feels "tainted" and unsure if people would come to their shows.
Identifying Chick Gender: A Quick Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Dixie Chicks' single Not Ready to Make Nice
The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, released the single "Not Ready to Make Nice" on March 20, 2006. The song was written by Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, Emily Robison (or Strayer), and Dan Wilson. It was the first single from their seventh studio album, "Taking the Long Way".
"Not Ready to Make Nice" was a response to the backlash the band received in 2003 after Natalie Maines criticized President George W. Bush ahead of the Iraq War. During a concert in London, Maines said: "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." The comment sparked outrage among the group's fans who supported Bush, and the band faced death threats and boycotts.
The song's lyrics reflect the band's defiance and refusal to back down in the face of controversy: "I'm not ready to make nice/I'm not ready to back down/I'm still mad as hell." The music video, directed by Sophie Muller, also contains symbolic references to the boycott of the band. In one scene, Natalie paints the white clothes of the other band members, Martie and Emily, with black paint. In another scene, Natalie wears a black dress and sits in a puddle of black paint.
"Not Ready to Make Nice" received universal acclaim from music critics, who praised the band for standing by their anti-Bush statement. The song won three Grammy Awards in 2007, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Despite the controversy, or perhaps because of it, the song became The Chicks' biggest hit in Canada and their first and only song to be certified 2x Platinum.
Being a Side Chick: Protect Your Heart
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Dixie Chicks' documentary Shut Up and Sing
The Dixie Chicks, an all-female Texas-based country music trio, rose to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They were known for their feisty songs and cheeky proto-feminist classics, becoming one of the biggest country acts of all time. However, their success was abruptly halted in 2003 when lead singer Natalie Maines made a comment about then-President George W. Bush during a live concert in London. Maines stated, "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."
The comment sparked immediate controversy, particularly among conservative groups in the US. The Dixie Chicks faced intense public scrutiny, fan backlash, physical threats, and pressure from corporate and political elements. They were dubbed "traitors" and "Saddam's Angels", and their music was boycotted by country radio stations and fans alike. The incident cast a long shadow over the country music industry, with many artists fearing the repercussions of speaking out politically. The phrase ""Dixie Chicked" even became shorthand for career suicide.
The documentary "Shut Up and Sing", released in 2006, chronicles the fallout from the Bush comment and the subsequent struggles of the Dixie Chicks. It follows the band over a three-year period, showing their day-to-day lives as they navigate the backlash, continue to make music, and stand by their convictions. The film received positive reviews, with an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and was well-received by major American publications.
The Dixie Chicks themselves had mixed feelings about the controversy. Initially, Maines issued an apology, saying her remark was disrespectful. However, she later rescinded this apology, stating that Bush deserved no respect. The band also tried to clarify their position, stating that they supported the troops and did not hate people who supported the war. Despite the controversy, the Dixie Chicks remained unapologetic and true to their beliefs, a stance that is reflected in their 2006 single "Not Ready to Make Nice", which directly addresses the criticism they received.
The documentary "Shut Up and Sing" serves as a powerful reminder of the intersection between media, politics, and celebrity. It showcases the challenges faced by the Dixie Chicks as they navigate their right to free speech while facing intense public scrutiny and death threats. The film also highlights the broader implications of speaking out politically in the entertainment industry, a decision that can lead to career suicide according to popular perception.
How to Respond When Your Dog Kills a Chicken
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Natalie Mains criticised then-US President George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq, saying: "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."
The Dixie Chicks stood by Mains, saying: "Natalie's comment came from frustration that we all shared — we were apparently days away from war and still left with a lot of questions." They also said they had nothing but support for the troops. Mains initially apologised for her comment but later rescinded it, saying Bush "deserved no respect".
The Dixie Chicks faced intense backlash, including album burnings, death threats, and organised protests to hurt ticket sales. They were blacklisted by the country music industry and dubbed traitors and "Saddam's Angels". Their career as superstars effectively ended, and they cut ties with the country music scene.
Natalie Mains has said she does not regret her comments, but wishes she had said something "smarter". She has also admitted that the backlash was difficult and that the group is now tainted.
