Sophie Bennett
In 2003, the Dixie Chicks publicly criticised then-US President George W. Bush for his decision to invade Iraq, triggering a backlash that damaged sales of their 2002 album Home. The band's conservative fans were outraged, and the group received death threats and were dubbed Saddam's Angels. Radio stations boycotted their music, and CD-burning protests were organised. The Dixie Chicks went on hiatus in 2008, and in 2020, they removed Dixie from their name, releasing their first album in 14 years, Gaslighter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2003 |
| Event | Lead singer Natalie Maines told a London audience that the band did not want the upcoming war in Iraq and were ashamed that the US President, George W. Bush, was also from Texas |
| Impact | The band received death threats, were dubbed Saddam's angels, and were boycotted by radio stations and fans |
| Comeback | The Dixie Chicks released the single "Not Ready to Make Nice" in 2006, addressing the criticism |
| Name Change | In 2020, the band changed their name to "The Chicks" to distance themselves from the negative connotations of "Dixie" |
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What You'll Learn
The Dixie Chicks criticised George W. Bush
On March 10, 2003, nine days before the US-led invasion of Iraq, the Dixie Chicks performed at the Shepherd's Bush Empire theatre in London, England. During the concert, lead singer Natalie 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's comments caused a backlash against the Dixie Chicks, with many country fans seeing her as traitorous for not supporting the president. Radio stations boycotted the band, and their single "Landslide" fell from number 10 to 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 in one week. The group was also blacklisted by many country radio stations, and some stations organised CD-burning protests. The Dixie Chicks' manager, Simon Renshaw, noted the irony that these stations continued to play the music of Tracy Lawrence, who had been convicted of spousal abuse in 1998.
The Dixie Chicks' comments about George W. Bush were not the only time they spoke out on political issues. In 2020, the band changed their name to "The Chicks" to disassociate themselves from the connotations of the word "Dixie", which referenced the former Confederate states. The band also released a new single, "March March", which addressed the Black Lives Matter protests and the issue of racial injustice.
While the Dixie Chicks' criticism of George W. Bush caused a significant backlash and negatively impacted their career, it is worth noting that the band has continued to find success. Their 2006 album "Taking the Long Way" sold 526,000 copies in its first week and hit number one on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts. The band has also won 13 Grammy Awards and sold more than 30 million albums.
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They were dubbed Saddam's angels
The Dixie Chicks were a popular American country band, formed in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. In March 2003, just before the US invasion of Iraq, lead singer Natalie Maines told a London crowd that the band was “ashamed” that then-US President George W. Bush was also from Texas. This comment sparked a massive backlash, with the Dixie Chicks being branded as unpatriotic and facing intense criticism and censorship. They were dubbed "Saddam's Angels" by right-wing press commentators, and their records were burned in protest.
The band's comments were particularly controversial because they were made by a popular country music group in a genre with a predominantly conservative fan base. The Dixie Chicks' political stance clashed with the political leanings of many country music listeners, who were mostly right-wing and supported the Iraq War. The band's criticism of President Bush and the war effort was seen as an attack on American values and the troops fighting overseas.
The backlash against the Dixie Chicks was swift and severe. They were blacklisted by numerous country radio stations, including all 42 country stations operated by Cumulus Media, and their music was banned from the airwaves by conglomerates like Clear Channel, which owned 1,200 radio stations in the US. The band received death threats, and their concerts and albums saw a significant drop in sales and attendance. Corporate sponsors, such as drinks manufacturer Lipton, also withdrew their support.
In response to the backlash, the Dixie Chicks posed nude on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, with slogans like "TRAITORS" and "SADDAM'S ANGELS" superimposed on their bodies. They wanted to confront the accusations head-on and expose the absurdity of the situation. Despite the bold statement, the controversy took a significant toll on the band's career and public image.
The term "Dixie Chicked" even became shorthand for career suicide, indicating the severe impact of the incident on the band's trajectory. The Dixie Chicks went on hiatus in 2007, and in 2020, they officially changed their name to "The Chicks," removing the word "Dixie" due to its negative connotations. While the band has continued to create and perform music, the 2003 comments and their aftermath remain a significant event in the history of the Dixie Chicks.
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Radio stations boycotted the band
In 2003, the Dixie Chicks' lead singer, Natalie Maines, publicly criticised then-US President George W. Bush ahead of the invasion of Iraq. At a concert in London, England, Maines told the audience: "We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas."
The comment caused a backlash, particularly among country fans, who saw Maines as traitorous for not supporting the president. The Dixie Chicks were dubbed "Saddam's angels", and local radio stations organised CD-burning protests. The band was blacklisted by many country radio stations, including all 42 country stations operated by Cumulus Media. On May 6, 2003, the Colorado radio station KKCS suspended two DJs for playing their music. WTDR-FM in Talladega, Alabama, dropped the Dixie Chicks after receiving over 250 calls from angry listeners in a single day.
Radio stations played a significant role in the boycott of the Dixie Chicks. Some stations defiantly continued to play the group's music, but others, particularly those in the Cumulus chain, actively sponsored anti-Chicks rallies in Toledo, Ohio, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The Kansas City station WDAF-AM placed trash cans outside its office for listeners to dispose of their Dixie Chicks CDs and displayed hundreds of emails from listeners supporting the boycott.
The boycott had a significant impact on the Dixie Chicks' career and the country music industry as a whole. Their songs were pulled from radio playlists, and their albums suffered in sales. The Dixie Chicks' manager, Simon Renshaw, noted the irony that these same stations continued to play the music of Tracy Lawrence, who had been convicted of spousal abuse in 1998. Despite the boycott, the Dixie Chicks' 2006 album, "Taking the Long Way", sold 526,000 copies in its first week and hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts.
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The Dixie Chicks changed their name to The Chicks
The Dixie Chicks, a band founded in 1989, changed their name to The Chicks in 2020. The change came in response to the social protests of 2020, which followed the murder of George Floyd. The band, already known for its socially conscious positions, such as criticising President George Bush in 2003 over the Iraq War, received criticism for its name. The word "Dixie" is meant to demarcate the southern United States, below the Mason-Dixon line, and is associated with the region that attempted to secede from the rest of the United States in the 1800s. The Dixie Chicks, a trio of white women, wanted to distance themselves from any associations with American slavery.
The Dixie Chicks had previously faced backlash for their comments about President Bush. On March 10, 2003, nine days before the invasion of Iraq, lead singer Natalie Maines told a London audience that she was ashamed that Bush was also from Texas. The Dixie Chicks were dubbed traitors and "Saddam's angels", and their music was boycotted by radio stations and fans. Despite this, the band continued to release music and tour, and in 2020, they released their first album in 14 years, Gaslighter, under their new name, The Chicks.
The Dixie Chicks' name change to The Chicks was a bold move, as they knew it would anger some fans. However, they felt it was important to meet this moment and ensure their band name was not associated with a painful history for many Americans. The change also brought attention to the band, with their Gaslighter album and single receiving significant attention.
The Dixie Chicks' decision to change their name can be understood in the context of other events occurring simultaneously. For example, the country group Lady Antebellum changed their name to Lady A, recognising the negative connotations of the word "Antebellum", which refers to the period before the American Civil War and is associated with slavery. Additionally, Confederate statues were being removed across the United States during the social protests of 2020.
The Dixie Chicks' name change to The Chicks was a significant moment for the band, allowing them to distance themselves from negative connotations and show solidarity with the social movements of the time. Despite the potential financial impact, the band prioritised their values and sense of the greater good.
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They were the best-selling all-woman band
The Dixie Chicks were founded in 1989 in Dallas, Texas, by Martie and Emily Erwin, alongside Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy. They performed bluegrass and country music, busking and touring bluegrass festival circuits and small venues for six years. In 1992, Lynch replaced Macy, and in 1995, the Dixie Chicks were signed by Monument Records Nashville, with Natalie Maines replacing Lynch.
The Dixie Chicks' first album with Monument, Wide Open Spaces, was released in 1998, followed by Fly in 1999. Both albums were certified diamond and sold more copies than every other country act combined that year. The Dixie Chicks were one of the biggest country acts of all time, with their music described as "cheeky proto-feminist classics". Their slogan, "Chicks rule", became country music's "girl power".
By July 2020, the Dixie Chicks had sold 33 million certified albums and 27.9 million albums in the US, becoming the best-selling all-woman band and best-selling country group since Nielsen SoundScan began recording sales in 1991. They have charted 22 times on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, with six songs reaching number one. They have also received 13 Grammy Awards, ten Country Music Association awards, and eight Academy of Country Music awards.
In 2003, shortly before the invasion of Iraq, the Dixie Chicks publicly criticised US President George W. Bush, stating that they were ashamed he was from Texas. This triggered a backlash, with denunciation and death threats, and they were dubbed "Saddam's angels". Local radio stations organised CD-burning protests, and US conglomerates banned them from the airwaves, damaging sales of their 2002 album Home.
Despite the controversy, the Dixie Chicks continued to release music and tour. They released Taking the Long Way in 2006, which debuted at number one on the US pop albums chart and country albums chart, selling 526,000 copies in the first week. They entered a hiatus in 2008, with Martie and Emily recording as a duo, Court Yard Hounds, and reunited for a series of tours in 2016. In 2020, they changed their name to "The Chicks", removing "Dixie" due to its negative connotations, and released their first album in 14 years, Gaslighter.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2003, the Dixie Chicks publicly criticised then-US President George W. Bush and the impending invasion of Iraq.
At a concert in London, lead singer Natalie Maines said: "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 faced a backlash from country fans who saw Maines as traitorous for not supporting the president. The band received death threats, were blacklisted by country radio stations, and faced CD-burning protests.
Despite the controversy, the Dixie Chicks continued to release music and tour. In 2020, they removed "Dixie" from their name due to its negative connotations and released their first album in 14 years, Gaslighter.
No, the Dixie Chicks stood by their comments. They released the single "Not Ready to Make Nice" in 2006, addressing the criticism they received.
