Claire Thompson
Natalie Maines is an American musician and the lead vocalist for the country band The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks. Maines joined the Dixie Chicks in 1995, replacing their lead singer, Laura Lynch. In 2003, the Dixie Chicks were performing in London when Maines told the audience that the band did not support the upcoming invasion of Iraq and were ashamed that President George W. Bush was from Texas. This triggered a major backlash in the United States, with the band receiving death threats and being blacklisted by country radio stations. Despite the controversy, Maines and the Dixie Chicks continued to achieve commercial and critical success, winning multiple Grammy Awards. In 2020, the band, now known as The Chicks, released the album Gaslighter, which addressed Maines' divorce from actor Adrian Pasdar. While there is no direct information regarding the current friendship status between Maines and her former bandmates, it appears that they have continued to work and perform together as The Chicks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the band | The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) |
| Members | Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer |
| Relationship status | Natalie Maines is no longer friends with her former bandmates |
| Recent album | Gaslighter (2020) |
| Album theme | Natalie Maines' divorce from actor Adrian Pasdar |
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What You'll Learn
Natalie Maines' comment 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. During the concert, Natalie Maines, the lead vocalist for the Dixie Chicks, made a comment about then-US President George W. Bush, saying:
> We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.
Maines's comment was in reference to the upcoming invasion of Iraq, which was supported by Bush and many American country music listeners. The Dixie Chicks, on the other hand, were against the war. Maines's statement triggered a significant backlash in the United States, with the band being blacklisted by numerous country radio stations and receiving death threats.
Maines initially apologised for her remark, saying it had been disrespectful. However, in 2006, she retracted her apology, asserting that Bush did not deserve any respect. The controversy surrounding the incident had a notable impact on the Dixie Chicks' career and the country music landscape.
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The Dixie Chicks' blacklisting
The Dixie Chicks were an American country music band from Texas, consisting of Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer. In 2003, the Dixie Chicks were involved in a highly publicized controversy that resulted in their blacklisting by the country music industry and a significant backlash from fans.
On March 10, 2003, nine days before the invasion of Iraq, the Dixie Chicks performed at the Shepherd's Bush Empire theater in London, England. During the concert, Natalie Maines, the lead vocalist, made a statement criticizing then-President George W. Bush and the upcoming war in Iraq. Maines said that the band was “ashamed” that Bush was from their home state of Texas.
The comment sparked outrage, particularly among conservative country music fans, many of whom supported the war. The Dixie Chicks were accused of being unpatriotic and faced a severe backlash, including death threats and boycotts of their music. Thousands of country radio stations blacklisted the band, removing their songs from playlists and refusing to play their music. The band's record label, Columbia Records, and the country music industry as a whole were also impacted by the controversy.
The Dixie Chicks' subsequent album sales and tour ticket sales suffered due to the backlash. Their 2002 album "Home" experienced a drop in sales, and their 2006 album "Taking the Long Way" also underperformed despite winning five Grammy Awards. However, concert ticket sales remained robust, and the band continued to perform and release music.
The Dixie Chicks stood by their right to free speech and refused to be silenced. In 2006, Maines rescinded her initial apology to President Bush, stating that she no longer felt he deserved respect. The band also addressed the controversy in the documentary "Shut Up and Sing," which was itself blacklisted by some corporate entities. In 2020, the band removed "Dixie" from their name due to its negative connotations and released their first album in 14 years, titled "Gaslighter." Despite the challenges and setbacks, the Dixie Chicks have continued to create music and speak out on political issues they care about.
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Maines' divorce from Adrian Pasdar
Natalie Maines filed for divorce from her husband of 17 years, actor Adrian Pasdar, in July 2017. The divorce was finalised in December 2019. Maines cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and requested joint custody of their two sons.
Pasdar, who had starring roles on TV dramas such as 'Judging Amy' and 'Heroes', disputed the validity of their prenup and fought for spousal support, claiming poverty and requesting that Maines pay him $60,000 a month. He also alleged that Maines owed him $450,000 in retroactive child support. Pasdar argued that Maines was the primary breadwinner and that he had sacrificed his career to care for their children. However, Maines maintained that their prenup stated that her earnings from the Dixie Chicks were hers alone.
Pasdar also attempted to prevent Maines and the Chicks from releasing new music, claiming that some of the songs broke the confidentiality clause in their prenup. Despite this, the Chicks released their album 'Gaslighter' in July 2020, with many of the songs inspired by Maines' divorce. The lyrics in songs such as 'Everybody Loves You', 'My Best Friend's Wedding', and 'Hope It's Something Good' are thought to reference Pasdar.
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The Dixie Chicks' name change
The Dixie Chicks, an all-female country music band, was formed in 1989 by Martie Maguire, Emily Strayer (née Erwin), Laura Lynch, and Robin Lynn Macy. They performed bluegrass and country music, touring small venues and bluegrass festivals. In 1992, Macy was replaced by Lynch as lead singer.
In 1995, Natalie Maines joined the Dixie Chicks as their third lead singer, replacing Lynch. With Maines as the lead vocalist, the band earned 10 Country Music Association Awards and 13 Grammy Awards between 1998 and 2007.
In 2003, shortly before the invasion of Iraq, the Dixie Chicks, with Maines as their spokesperson, publicly criticized then-US President George W. Bush and the upcoming war. This triggered a massive backlash in the United States, where many country music listeners supported the war. The band was blacklisted and received death threats.
Following this controversy, the Dixie Chicks experienced a shift in their image and sound. They moved away from their earlier cowgirl image and adopted a more contemporary style. Maines also expressed a desire to break free from the constraints of country music, which she felt did not represent the band's true identity.
In 2020, the band, now consisting of Maines, Maguire, and Strayer, released their first album in 14 years, titled "Gaslighter." By this time, they had removed "Dixie" from their name, becoming simply "The Chicks." This name change reflected the band's evolution and their desire to distance themselves from the country music genre and its political connotations.
The Chicks' album "Gaslighter" addressed Maines' divorce from actor Adrian Pasdar and included specific references to their failed relationship. The album also continued the band's tradition of political commentary, taking aim at the incompetence of American political leaders and advocating for gun control.
Despite the name change, the Chicks remain connected to their roots and continue to perform and create music that blends bluegrass, country, blues, and pop influences.
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Maines' relationship with bandmates
Natalie Maines is an American musician and the lead vocalist for the country band the Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks). Maines joined the Dixie Chicks in 1995, replacing their founding lead singer Laura Lynch.
Maines's relationship with her bandmates, sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer, appears to be a positive one. The three members of the Chicks keep in touch via a group text about band matters and each other's families, as well as to trade jokes. In an interview, Maines said that if people could read what they write, "we'd be cancelled 10 times over already".
Maines met her ex-husband, actor Adrian Pasdar, at bandmate Emily Strayer's wedding to Charlie Robison in 1999. Maines and Pasdar married in 2000 and have two sons together. Their divorce, finalised in 2019, inspired multiple songs on the Chicks' 2020 album Gaslighter.
Maines and her bandmates have also collaborated musically. Maines co-wrote six songs for the Chicks' next three albums, including the number-one hit "Without You". She was also the primary songwriter on all 14 tracks of the band's 2006 album Taking the Long Way. Maines and Martie co-wrote four of the album's twelve tracks, including collaborations with country singer-songwriter Marty Stuart.
In 2003, Maines made controversial comments about then-US President George W. Bush, stating that the band did not support the upcoming invasion of Iraq and were ashamed that Bush was from Texas. This triggered a backlash, with the Dixie Chicks being blacklisted by thousands of country radio stations and receiving death threats. Despite this, the band continued to perform and create music together, and in 2020, they released their first album in 14 years, Gaslighter, which addressed Maines' divorce and took aim at the incompetence of America's political leaders.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Natalie Maines is still part of the band, now known as The Chicks. The band removed 'Dixie' from their name in 2020.
Natalie Maines was the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks from 1995 until 2006. She is still the lead singer of the band, now known as The Chicks.
It is not known whether the former bandmates are still friends. However, the Dixie Chicks supported Natalie Maines during her divorce proceedings with Adrian Pasdar, which inspired the album 'Gaslighter'.
Yes, Natalie Maines performed with the Dixie Chicks at a benefit night honouring Rick Rubin at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in February 2014.
