Lucas Delgado
The feud between country music stars Toby Keith and The Dixie Chicks (now known as The Chicks) began in 2003, when the group's lead singer, Natalie Maines, publicly criticised Keith's song Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American), which was written in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Maines called the song ignorant, to which Keith responded with a threat: I'll bury her. She has never written anything that's been a hit. The feud escalated when Keith began displaying a doctored photo of Maines next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts, and Maines retaliated by wearing a F.U.T.K. t-shirt onstage, later confirmed to stand for Fuck You, Toby Keith. The dispute ended abruptly in 2003, when Keith called a truce after a member of his band lost their young daughter to cancer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2003 |
| Reason | Comments made by Natalie Maines about Toby Keith's song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" and the Iraq War |
| Toby Keith's actions | Displayed a doctored photo of Natalie Maines next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts |
| The Dixie Chicks' response | Natalie Maines wore a t-shirt with the letters "F.U.T.K." at the ACM Awards |
| Impact on the Dixie Chicks | Blacklisted and banished from country music circles, received violent threats |
| End of the feud | Toby Keith ended the feud in 2003 after a member of his band lost their toddler to cancer |
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What You'll Learn
- Natalie Maines' comments about President Bush and the Iraq War
- Maines' criticism of Toby Keith's song Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)
- Toby Keith's public display of a doctored photo of Maines next to Saddam Hussein
- Maines' retaliation at the ACM Awards, wearing a F.U.T.K. t-shirt
- The Dixie Chicks' controversial Entertainment Weekly cover
Natalie Maines' comments about President Bush and the Iraq War
On March 10, 2003, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks made a comment about President George W. Bush and the Iraq War that quickly spread worldwide and brought their skyrocketing career to a halt. At the Shepherd's Bush Empire theatre in London, England, Maines introduced the Chicks' then-latest single, "Travelin' Soldier," with the statement:
> 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' comment was made in the lead-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and the resulting backlash was swift and severe. While the immediate reaction was not as hostile as expected—the crowd cheered—within a week, country radio stations in the U.S. were banning their music and hosting parties to crush all of the Dixie Chicks' albums. The Dixie Chicks were blacklisted by many country radio stations, and their single "Landslide" fell from number 10 to 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 in one week before leaving the chart.
Maines issued a clarification two days after her initial statement, reiterating her support for the troops while expressing her fear of the impending war with Iraq and the potential loss of innocent lives. She also apologised to President Bush, acknowledging that her remark was disrespectful and that the President should be treated with respect. Despite her attempts to quell the controversy, critics remained unsatisfied.
Maines' comments about the Iraq War and President Bush sparked a feud with fellow musician Toby Keith, a staunch supporter of the war and the President. Keith displayed a doctored photo of Maines next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts, to which Maines responded by wearing a T-shirt with the letters "FUTK," widely interpreted as "Fuck you Toby Keith." The feud eventually ended in 2003 when a member of Keith's band lost their young daughter to cancer, causing Keith to reconsider his priorities.
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Maines' criticism of Toby Keith's song Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)
In 2002, a year before the start of the Iraq War, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks expressed her disagreement with the impending conflict. She also criticised 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' comments angered fellow country singer Toby Keith, who was a vocal supporter of the war and of Bush. In response to Maines' statements, Keith displayed a doctored photo of Maines next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts. He also released the song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)", which contained 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.”
Maines was critical of "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)", saying that it made country music sound "ignorant". She also stated that the song targeted an entire culture, not just the "bad people who did bad things".
The feud between Maines and Keith escalated, with the Dixie Chicks appearing nude on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, their bodies displaying phrases such as "Boycott" and "Traitor". Maines also wore a homemade t-shirt on tour spelling out "F.U.T.K.", which many interpreted as standing for "Fuck You, Toby Keith".
In 2003, the feud ended abruptly when a member of Keith's band lost their two-year-old daughter to cancer. Keith reflected on the tragedy and decided to end the feud, saying, "It seemed so insignificant".
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Toby Keith's public display of a doctored photo of Maines next to Saddam Hussein
The early 2000s were a fraught time politically, with the Iraq War and the War on Terror dominating the political landscape. In this environment, country stars Toby Keith and Natalie Maines of The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) found themselves on opposite sides of the political divide.
Keith was a staunch supporter of the Iraq War and of President George W. Bush, and he channelled his patriotism into his music. In 2002, he released the song "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)", which glorified war and violence in the name of American freedom. The song included the line, "We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way." The song struck a nerve with Maines, who, in August 2002, told the Los Angeles Daily News that she found the song ""ignorant". She elaborated, "I hate it... It makes country music sound ignorant. It targets an entire culture — and not just the bad people who did bad things."
Maines also publicly criticised President Bush and the Iraq War. From the stage at a show in London, she claimed that she was "ashamed" to be from the same state as then-President Bush, saying, "We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas." These comments sparked a backlash for the Dixie Chicks, with their music being boycotted and banned from country radio stations.
It was in this context that Keith began displaying a doctored photo of Maines next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts. This display seemed to insinuate that Maines was a terrorist or supporter of Hussein. The photo was likely a response to Maines' criticism of Keith's song and her comments about the war and President Bush.
In response to Keith's actions, Maines fired back by wearing a T-shirt with the letters "F.U.T.K." at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2003. While a spokesperson for the Dixie Chicks claimed that the acronym stood for "Friends United in Truth and Kindness", many, including host Vince Gill, interpreted it as an obscene shot at Keith, understanding it to mean "Fuck You Toby Keith".
The feud between Keith and Maines eventually fizzled out, with Keith announcing he was done with it after witnessing a friend go through their child's cancer battle. He reflected on the situation, saying, "I’m embarrassed about the way I let myself get sucked into all of that. I disappointed myself... It got pretty vicious sometimes, putting her and Saddam Hussein up on the screen. That was funny for a night or two, and then it was a little over the top for me. I’m not that mean."
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Maines' retaliation at the ACM Awards, wearing a F.U.T.K. t-shirt
The feud between Toby Keith and The Dixie Chicks (now known as The Chicks) began over comments made by the band's lead singer, Natalie Maines, about Keith's song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)", and her opposition to the Iraq War.
Maines criticised the song, which was released shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, for being ignorant and targeting an entire culture. She also expressed her disagreement with Keith's outwardly patriotic stance and support for the war and President Bush. In response, Keith began displaying a doctored photo of Maines next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts, insinuating that she was a terrorist.
In retaliation, Maines wore a homemade t-shirt with the letters "F.U.T.K." at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. While the band initially claimed that the acronym stood for "Friends United in Truth and Kindness", or "Freedom, Understanding, Truth and Knowledge", they later confirmed that it was indeed directed at Keith, standing for "Fuck You, Toby Keith". This act of defiance further fuelled the feud between the two artists.
The Dixie Chicks faced significant backlash for their political stance, resulting in their music being boycotted and even banned by radio stations, effectively blacklisting them from the country music industry. Despite this, the band remained steadfast in their beliefs and continued to express their opinions.
Ultimately, the feud between Keith and The Dixie Chicks came to an end in 2003 due to tragic circumstances. Following the death of a band member's toddler from cancer, Keith reconsidered his involvement in the feud and decided to put an end to it, acknowledging its insignificance in the face of such personal tragedies.
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The Dixie Chicks' controversial Entertainment Weekly cover
The controversy began in the lead-up to the Iraq War when Maines, while on stage in London, expressed her opposition to the war and shame about President Bush. This clashed with the more patriotic sentiments of some country music fans and artists, including Toby Keith, who was a staunch supporter of the war and the president. In response to Maines' comments, Keith displayed a doctored photo of Maines next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts, insinuating that she was a terrorist. The Dixie Chicks retaliated, with Maines wearing a homemade t-shirt onstage spelling out "F.U.T.K.", which many interpreted as a jab at Keith.
The controversy surrounding the Dixie Chicks' comments and the Entertainment Weekly cover had a significant impact on their career. Their music was blacklisted by radio stations and they faced widespread criticism, including from conservative media and fans who felt that the band had disrespected the troops. Despite this, the band stood by their beliefs and did not let the backlash sway them from their opinions. The Entertainment Weekly cover was part of the band's response to the controversy, as they sought to address their critics and clarify their support for free speech and the troops.
In the years following the controversy, the Dixie Chicks experienced a decline in album sales and tour attendance, although they did win several Grammy Awards for their 2006 album "Taking the Long Way". The band went on hiatus in 2014 and returned with a new album in 2020. While the initial intensity of the backlash faded, the Entertainment Weekly cover remains a notable moment in the history of country music, with the band members reflecting on how much has changed for them and the country since that shoot.
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Frequently asked questions
The feud started after Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks criticised Toby Keith's song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)", which was written in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Natalie Maines called the song “ignorant” and said that it "makes country music sound ignorant". She also said that it "targets an entire culture—and not just the bad people who did bad things".
Toby Keith responded by displaying a doctored photo of Natalie Maines next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts. He also said, "I'll bury her. She has never written anything that's been a hit."
The feud ended abruptly in 2003 after a member of Toby Keith's band lost their 2-year-old daughter to cancer. Keith decided to end the feud, saying that it seemed "so insignificant".
