Jake Harper
The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, is an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. The original lineup consisted of Laura Lynch on upright bass, Robin Lynn Macy on guitar, and sisters Martie and Emily Erwin. Martie Maguire (formerly Martie Seidel), played the fiddle, mandolin, and viola, while Emily Strayer (formerly Emily Robison) played the banjo, resonator guitar, and dobro. Natalie Maines replaced Laura Lynch as the lead singer in 1995, and she plays the guitar and bass in concert.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding members | Laura Lynch (bassist), Robin Lynn Macy (singer and guitarist), Martie Maguire (vocals, fiddle, mandolin, guitar), and Emily Strayer (vocals, guitar, banjo, dobro) |
| Founding year | 1989 |
| Genre | Bluegrass, swing, and classic country |
| Awards | 10 Country Music Association Awards and 13 Grammy Awards |
| Albums | Wide Open Spaces, Fly, Home, Gaslighter |
| Former band members | Robin Lynn Macy, Laura Lynch |
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What You'll Learn
Laura Lynch was the original bassist for the Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks initially played bluegrass and a mix of country standards, busking and touring the bluegrass festival circuits and small venues for six years. In 1992, Lynch replaced Macy, who left the group to pursue a "purer" bluegrass sound. After independently releasing three albums, the Dixie Chicks were signed by Monument Records Nashville in 1995, and Lynch was replaced by Natalie Maines, who played guitar and bass in concert.
Lynch's departure left Martie and Emily as the only remaining original members, and with the addition of Maines, the band took on a more contemporary sound and look, broadening their appeal. Before her departure, Lynch shared lead vocal duties with Macy, and co-wrote one song with Martie for the Dixie Chicks' 1992 album "Little Ol' Cowgirl".
Lynch offered to stay for the first recordings on the new album with Monument Records, but the sisters thought it would send the wrong message to Sony. In a 1996 interview, Lynch said:
> It can't really be characterized as a resignation. There are three Dixie Chicks, and I'm only one.
Lynch passed away in a traffic collision in December 2023.
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Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer are sisters
The Dixie Chicks initially played bluegrass and a mix of country standards, with Martie and Emily providing most of the instrumentation. Martie primarily played fiddle, mandolin, and viola, while Emily's specialties included banjo, dobro, guitar, lap steel, bass, mandolin, accordion, fiddle, piano, and sitar.
In 1992, Laura Lynch replaced Robin Lynn Macy, and in 1995, Natalie Maines replaced Laura Lynch as the lead singer. With the addition of Maines, the band took on a more contemporary sound and look, leaving their cowgirl image behind and appealing to a broader audience. The Dixie Chicks went on to achieve major commercial success and critical acclaim, winning 10 Country Music Association Awards and 13 Grammy Awards between 1998 and 2007.
In 2003, the Dixie Chicks publicly criticized US President George W. Bush and the impending invasion of Iraq, sparking controversy and a backlash from conservative country music listeners and commentators. The band received death threats, and their music was blacklisted by thousands of country radio stations. Despite this, the Dixie Chicks maintained their success and continued to release music and tour, proving their talent and resilience. In 2020, they changed their name to "The Chicks" and released their first studio album in 14 years, titled "Gaslighter".
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Natalie Maines replaced Laura Lynch as the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, is an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. The band was founded in 1989 by sisters Martie and Emily Erwin, who later changed their last names to Maguire and Strayer, respectively, and Laura Lynch, who played the upright bass. The original lineup also included guitarist Robin Lynn Macy. Martie and Emily Erwin, who performed as members of the bluegrass group Blue Night Express, played predominantly bluegrass and a mix of country standards.
In 1992, Laura Lynch replaced Robin Lynn Macy, who left the band to devote herself to a "purer" bluegrass sound. After independently releasing three albums, the Dixie Chicks were signed by Monument Records Nashville in 1995. That same year, Natalie Maines replaced Laura Lynch as the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks. Maines was recruited after leaving Berklee College of Music and was selected as their third lead singer and second guitarist. Maines's father, Lloyd Maines, a renowned musician himself, contributed to the band's previous albums and passed the band a demo tape of his daughter.
With the addition of Maines, the band took on a more contemporary sound and look, leaving their cowgirl dresses in the past and gaining broader appeal. The Dixie Chicks released their first album with Monument Records, Wide Open Spaces, in 1998, followed by Fly in 1999. Both albums were certified diamond. With Maines as the lead vocalist, the band earned 10 Country Music Association Awards and 13 Grammy Awards for their work between 1998 and 2007.
In 2003, shortly before the invasion of Iraq, the Dixie Chicks publicly criticized US President George W. Bush, stating that they did not support the upcoming Allied invasion of Iraq and were "ashamed" that he was from Texas. This comment triggered a backlash in the United States, with many country radio stations blacklisting the group and the band members receiving death threats. The Dixie Chicks maintained a relatively low profile until 2006, when they returned with a world tour and the release of their album Taking the Long Way.
In 2020, the Dixie Chicks changed their name to The Chicks, inspired by the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. They released their first studio album in 14 years, Gaslighter, which included songs inspired by the end of Maines' marriage.
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Natalie Maines plays bass guitar, not acoustic bass
The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, is an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. The band consists of Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer. Martie and Emily founded the Dixie Chicks in 1989 with Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy. Natalie Maines joined the band in 1995, replacing Laura Lynch as the lead singer.
Natalie Maines is the lead vocalist for the country band The Chicks. She plays the guitar and bass in concert in the band. Maines was born in Lubbock, Texas, to country musician and producer Lloyd Maines and Tina May Maines. She is a well-known musician and has also released solo albums.
Natalie Maines plays the bass guitar, not the acoustic bass. She also plays the acoustic and electric guitar. Maines is a talented musician and has also occasionally played the electric bass guitar or Tacoma Papoose guitar in concert. She is a versatile artist and has made significant contributions to the band's success.
The Dixie Chicks are known for their instrumental prowess, with Martie Maguire playing the fiddle, mandolin, and viola, and Emily Strayer specializing in the banjo, guitar, dobro, and bass. The band has achieved commercial and critical success, blending traditional instruments with modern sounds. They have released multiple record-breaking albums and earned numerous awards for their music.
The Dixie Chicks have had a major impact on the music industry, both commercially and culturally. Their willingness to blend traditional and modern sounds and challenge country's politically conservative ethos has set them apart. Additionally, their stance against the Iraq War, despite backlash and death threats, demonstrated their resilience and commitment to their values.
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The Dixie Chicks changed their name to The Chicks in 2020
The Dixie Chicks, an American country music band from Dallas, Texas, changed their name to The Chicks in 2020. The band was founded in 1989 by sisters Martie and Emily Erwin, alongside Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy. Martie and Emily performed as multi-instrumentalists, while Laura played the upright bass.
In 1992, Laura Lynch replaced Robin Lynn Macy, and in 1995, Natalie Maines joined the band, replacing Lynch as the lead vocalist. Maines also plays the guitar and bass guitar. Martie and Emily Erwin changed their surnames multiple times; they are now known as Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer.
In 2020, the Dixie Chicks changed their name to The Chicks. This decision was made in the context of the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. The band wanted to distance themselves from the name "Dixie", which has associations with the Confederate-era South and American slavery. The term "Dixie" refers to the southern United States, below the Mason-Dixon line, the region that attempted to secede from the rest of the country in the 1800s. The band's name change was accompanied by the release of a protest song, "March March", and their first studio album in 14 years, "Gaslighter".
The Dixie Chicks had previously faced backlash for their political stances, particularly their criticism of President George W. Bush regarding the Iraq War in 2003. The band's comments resulted in their music being blacklisted by country radio stations and death threats against the band members. The Dixie Chicks maintained a low profile until 2006, when they returned with a world tour and a new album, "Taking the Long Way".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, founding member Laura Lynch played the upright bass.
The Dixie Chicks are an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. The band consists of Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer.
Martie Maguire plays the fiddle, mandolin, and viola. Emily Strayer plays the banjo, dobro, guitar, lap steel, mandolin, accordion, fiddle, piano, and sitar. Natalie Maines plays the guitar and bass guitar.
Laura Lynch left the Dixie Chicks in 1995 and was replaced by Natalie Maines. Lynch passed away in a traffic collision in December 2023.
