Lucas Delgado
In 2003, Toby Keith was involved in a feud with The Dixie Chicks (formerly known as The Chicks) over comments made by the band's lead singer, Natalie Maines, about President Bush and the Iraq War. Maines publicly criticized Keith's song Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (the Angry American), calling it ignorant. In response, Keith displayed doctored photos of Maines next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts. The feud ended abruptly in 2003 when a member of Keith's band lost their young daughter to cancer, causing Keith to reconsider his actions and seek an end to the conflict. While the feud fizzled out, there is no indication that Toby Keith ever apologized to The Dixie Chicks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who ended the feud? | Toby Keith |
| Reason for the feud | Comments by Natalie Maines about Toby Keith's song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (Angry American)" and the Iraq War |
| Year of feud | 2003 |
| Apology | No |
| Toby Keith's stance on the Iraq War | Opposed |
| Toby Keith's stance on troops | Supported |
| Toby Keith's stance on patriotism | Patriotic |
| Toby Keith's death | February 5, 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Toby Keith's feud with the Dixie Chicks
In 2003, Toby Keith was involved in a feud with The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) over comments made by the band's lead singer, Natalie Maines, about President Bush and the Iraq War. Maines, performing in London, stated that she was "ashamed" that both she and the then-President were from Texas. She also criticised Keith's song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (Angry American)", which was written after the September 11 attacks, for making country music sound "ignorant".
In response to Maines' comments, Keith displayed a doctored photo of her next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts. Maines retaliated by wearing a "F.U.T.K." t-shirt onstage at the ACM Awards, which many interpreted as a jab at Keith. The feud escalated, and the Dixie Chicks posed nude on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, with their bodies displaying phrases such as "Boycott" and "Proud Americans". Despite the controversy, the Dixie Chicks remained defiant and became Billboard's top-selling country tour in 2003.
Keith, a staunch patriot and supporter of the war, clashed with those who spoke out against it. He denied starting the feud with Maines and the Dixie Chicks, stating that they "came out and just tore me up". However, in 2003, the feud abruptly ended when a member of Keith's band lost their young daughter to cancer. This tragedy caused Keith to reconsider his actions, and he announced that he was done with the feud.
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Natalie Maines' comments about President Bush
On March 10, 2003, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks (now known as The Chicks) made a comment about then-President George W. Bush that sparked widespread controversy and had a significant impact on the group's career trajectory. While performing in London, England, Maines stated:
> We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.
Maines' comment, made just before the United States' invasion of Iraq, led to a swift and intense backlash. Many country radio stations in the U.S. banned their music and organised events to destroy their albums. The group faced criticism from some country artists, including Reba McEntire and Toby Keith, who clashed with Maines over her anti-war stance and her criticism of his song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (the Angry American)."
Maines stood firm in her beliefs and did not apologise for her comments, despite the negative repercussions. She even poked fun at her own remarks in subsequent years, demonstrating her willingness to embrace the controversy. The Dixie Chicks addressed the backlash they received in their 2006 song "Not Ready to Make Nice," which won three Grammy Awards.
The group's career as superstars effectively ended due to the backlash, and they experienced a downward spiral in terms of their commercial success and industry standing. Their 2006 album "Taking the Long Way" reached number one, but their only Top 40 single from that record was "Not Ready to Make Nice." The Chicks' label, Columbia Records, as well as their fellow songwriters and the broader music business, also felt the impact of the controversy.
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Keith's song Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue
"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. The song was written in late 2001, inspired by the death of Keith's father in March 2001, and the September 11 attacks on the United States later that year. It was released in May 2002 as the lead single from the album "Unleashed".
Initially, Keith refused to record the song and only sang it live at his concerts for military personnel. However, the reaction was strong, and he was encouraged by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, James L. Jones, to record the song to boost the morale of the troops. The song debuted at number 41 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number one in July 2002.
The song's lyrics include:
> "American girls and American guys / We'll always stand up and salute, we'll always recognize / When we see Old Glory flyin', there's a lot of men dead / So, we can sleep in peace at night / And you'll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A. / 'Cause we'll put a boot in your (expletive) / It's the American way."
The song sparked a public feud with the Dixie Chicks, led by Natalie Maines, who criticised the song as "ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant". Keith responded by belittling Maines' songwriting skills and displaying a doctored photo of Maines with Saddam Hussein at his concerts. This led to an infamous incident where Maines wore a "FUTK" T-shirt, which many interpreted as standing for "Fuck You Toby Keith".
In August 2003, Keith publicly declared he was done feuding with Maines, stating that there were more important things to focus on. The feud ended abruptly that year after a tragedy struck his band, causing him to reconsider his actions.
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Dixie Chicks' blacklisting in country circles
The Dixie Chicks were blacklisted in country circles following comments made by their lead singer, Natalie Maines, about then-President George W. Bush and the Iraq War. In 2003, just before the US-led invasion of Iraq, the Dixie Chicks performed at the Shepherd's Bush Empire theatre in London, England. 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' comments sparked a fierce backlash, particularly from country music fans and radio stations, who were predominantly right-wing and supportive of the war and President Bush. Many saw Maines' remarks as unpatriotic and traitorous, especially since they were made abroad. This sentiment was heightened in the post-9/11 era, when there was a strong emphasis on showing support for the US.
The Dixie Chicks experienced a downward spiral in their career as a result of the controversy. Their music was blacklisted by many country radio stations, including all 42 country stations operated by Cumulus Media. Some stations even banned them completely from the air. The group's singles experienced a sharp decline in popularity, and they faced widespread criticism and boycotts from listeners.
The Dixie Chicks stood strong in the face of the backlash and refused to apologise for their comments. They appeared nude on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, covered in paint with words like "big mouth" and "traitors". Despite the controversy, they became Billboard's top-selling country tour in 2003, partially due to their defiance. The group continued to address the criticism they received and released the single "Not Ready to Make Nice" in 2006, which won three Grammy Awards.
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Toby Keith's death in 2024
On February 5, 2024, the country music world lost one of its most successful and controversial stars, Toby Keith. The 62-year-old singer died following a battle with stomach cancer.
Born Toby Keith Covel in Clinton, Oklahoma, on July 8, 1961, Keith had a long and illustrious career in country music, with a string of hit albums and singles to his name. He was known for his patriotic anthems, such as "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (Angry American)," which he wrote after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The song included the lyrics, “And you’ll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A. / Cause we’ll put a boot in your (expletive) / It’s the American way.”
However, it was this very patriotism that led to a very public feud with fellow country music stars, The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks). The feud began when The Chicks' lead singer, Natalie Maines, criticized Keith's song as making "country music sound ignorant." Maines was outspoken against the Iraq War and, in 2003, claimed that she was “ashamed” that then-President Bush was from her home state of Texas.
Keith, a staunch supporter of the war and President Bush, was angered by Maines' comments. He retaliated by displaying a doctored photo of Maines next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts. Maines hit back by wearing a "F.U.T.K." t-shirt onstage, which many interpreted as a jab at Keith. The feud escalated, with The Chicks appearing nude on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, covered in paint spelling out words like “big mouth” and “traitors.” Despite the controversy, The Chicks became Billboard's top-selling country tour in 2003, in part due to their defiance.
Ultimately, it was Keith who ended the feud in 2003, after a tragedy struck his band. In an interview, he recalled seeing a magazine cover with a photo of himself and Maines that said, "Fight to the Death," which made him reconsider his actions: "It seemed so insignificant. I said, 'Enough is enough.'”
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Frequently asked questions
No, Toby Keith did not apologise.
The feud was sparked by comments made by Dixie Chicks member Natalie Maines about then-US President Bush and the Iraq War. Maines also criticised Keith's song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (Angry American)", saying the lyrics made country music sound "ignorant".
At his shows, Keith displayed a doctored photo of Maines next to Saddam Hussein, seemingly insinuating that she was a terrorist. Maines responded by wearing a homemade T-shirt on tour with the letters ""F.U.T.K." on it.
