Claire Thompson
The lead singer of The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) is Natalie Maines. Maines joined the band in 1995, replacing founding lead singer Laura Lynch. 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, Maines made a controversial statement about U.S. President George W. Bush, which resulted in the Dixie Chicks receiving backlash, including death threats, and being dropped from country radio. Despite this, the band continued to find success and released new albums, including their 2020 album Gaslighter, which addressed Maines' divorce. Maines has also released solo albums and collaborated with various artists outside of the band.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the lead singer of the Chicks | Natalie Maines |
| Year of birth | 1974 |
| Year she joined the band | 1995 |
| Replaced | Laura Lynch |
| Year the band changed its name from Dixie Chicks to the Chicks | 2020 |
| Reason for the name change | The word Dixie's historical usage as a reference to the Confederate South |
| Awards won | 10 Country Music Association Awards and 13 Grammy Awards |
| Albums | Wide Open Spaces, Fly, Taking the Long Way, Mother, Gaslighter |
| Songs | White Women's Clothes, Without You, You, God Only Knows, Favorite Year, Landslide, Lover, You Should've Come Over, Not Ready to Make Nice, Cowboy Take Me Away |
| Collaborated with | Sheryl Crow, Pat Green, Charlie Robison, Yellowcard, Stevie Nicks, Patty Griffin, Neil Diamond, Eddie Vedder, Pete Yorn, Ben Harper |
| Personal life | Married actor Adrian Pasdar in 2000, divorced in 2019 |
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What You'll Learn
Natalie Maines replaced Laura Lynch as lead singer in 1995
The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, is an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (both née Erwin) founded the Dixie Chicks in 1989 with Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy. They performed bluegrass and country music, busking and touring the bluegrass festival circuits and small venues for six years. In 1992, Lynch replaced Macy. After independently releasing three albums, the Dixie Chicks were signed by Monument Records Nashville in 1995, and Natalie Maines replaced Lynch as the lead singer.
Maines, born in Lubbock, Texas, is an American musician and the daughter of country musician and producer Lloyd Maines. She joined the Dixie Chicks at the end of 1995, at the age of 21, after leaving Berklee College of Music. Maines was recruited by the Dixie Chicks to replace their lead singer, Laura Lynch. 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.
Maines's first professional recording was lead vocals on the song "White Women's Clothes" from Andy Wilkinson's album "Charlie Goodnight's Life in Poetry and Song." Her first commercially released work was background vocals on Pat Green's debut album, "Dancehall Dreamer", produced by her father and released in 1995. Maines plays the guitar and bass guitar in concert in the band. She co-wrote six songs overall for the Chicks' next three albums, including the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart number-one hit "Without You" on Fly.
With the addition of Maines, the Dixie Chicks' new lineup had a more contemporary sound and look, leaving their cowgirl dresses behind and gaining broader appeal. The Dixie Chicks' genre-spanning versatility quickly attracted fans from outside country music. Their debut album with Maines, "Wide Open Spaces" (1998), sold more than 12 million copies in the United States and was named the best country album at the 1999 Grammy Awards ceremony.
Lynch's departure left the Erwin sisters as the two remaining original members. Lynch offered to stay for the first recordings on the new album, but the sisters thought it would send the wrong message to Sony. They all agreed that she would leave before the new album. 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."
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Maines received death threats after criticising George W. Bush in 2003
The Dixie Chicks, an American country music band, were embroiled in a career-shifting controversy in 2003 due to their criticism of George W. Bush. At a concert in London, the 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' comment was made as war was looming with Iraq, and it sparked outrage among right-wing audiences and those who strongly supported the Bush administration. The band was subsequently banned from country radio, and their album sales collapsed. In addition to the criticism, the band and Maines herself received death threats. Metal detectors were installed at the Dixie Chicks' shows, and Maines had to be escorted by police to a concert and the airport. She also installed 24-hour security outside her home.
Maines described one of the death threats she received as "definitely scary" because the sender "had a plan". Despite the threats and criticism, the band stood by their comments in the years that followed. In 2006, Maines rescinded the apology she had made in 2003, stating that she no longer felt Bush was owed any respect. The Dixie Chicks' album that year, "Taking the Long Way," included several tracks that responded defiantly to their detractors, showcasing their desire to move on to new musical possibilities and audiences.
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Maines has released solo albums and collaborated with other artists
Natalie Maines, the lead singer of the Chicks, has released solo albums and collaborated with several other artists. Her first professional recording was the lead vocals on the song "White Women's Clothes" from Andy Wilkinson's album "Charlie Goodnight's Life in Poetry and Song". Her first commercially released work was background vocals on Pat Green's debut album, "Dancehall Dreamer", produced by her father, Lloyd Maines, and released in 1995.
Maines has released two solo albums. Her first solo album, "Mother", was released on May 7, 2013, and was her first album since the Chicks' hiatus began in 2007. The album was co-produced by Ben Harper and features interpretations of several cover songs, including Pink Floyd's "Mother", Eddie Vedder's "Without You", and Jeff Buckley's "Lover, You Should've Come Over". The album received mostly positive reviews from music critics, with Jim Farber of Daily News calling it "a flat-out masterpiece, an ideal match of singer and songs that moves Maines from being a skilled and decorative singer into one of the most emotive vocalists of our time".
Maines released her second solo album, "Natalie Maines", in 2019. This album features a mix of original songs and covers, including a duet with singer-songwriter Eric Church on the track "Without You Again".
In addition to her solo work, Maines has collaborated with numerous artists outside of the Chicks. She has performed with artists such as Pat Green, Charlie Robison, Yellowcard, Stevie Nicks, Patty Griffin, Neil Diamond, Eddie Vedder, Pete Yorn, and Ben Harper. Maines also recorded a solo version of the Beach Boys' hit "God Only Knows" for the final episode of the HBO series "Big Love" in March 2011.
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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 June 2020. The band was founded in 1989 by Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (both née Erwin), alongside Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy. They performed bluegrass and country music, touring the bluegrass festival circuits and small venues for six years. In 1995, Natalie Maines replaced Lynch as the lead singer, and 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, Maines, the lead vocalist of the Dixie Chicks, made headlines by publicly criticizing then-U.S. President George W. Bush. During a concert in London, she stated that she was "ashamed" that the president was from her native Texas. This ignited a controversy that led to a career fallout for the band. Many country radio stations banned their music, and the group faced intense backlash, including death threats and anti-Dixie Chicks demonstrations.
In 2020, amidst a growing national discussion on racism in the United States, the band decided to change their name to distance themselves from the Confederate-era South and its association with racism. The word "Dixie" has connotations of slavery and the region that attempted to secede from the United States in the 1800s. The decision to change their name came in response to the social protests of 2020 following the murder of George Floyd. The band acknowledged that they had wanted to change their name for years and felt it was important to meet this moment of racial reckoning.
On July 17, 2020, The Chicks, now consisting of Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer, and Martie Maguire, released their first new studio album in 14 years, titled "Gaslighter." The album centered on failed relationships, including the breakup of Maines's marriage. The Chicks continue to be recognized for their musical achievements and their willingness to take a stand on socially conscious positions.
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The band has won 13 Grammy Awards
The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, is an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. The band has won 13 Grammy Awards for their work between 1998 and 2007. The band consists of Natalie Maines, who is the lead vocalist, and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer. Martie and Emily founded the Dixie Chicks in 1989 with Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy. They performed bluegrass and country music, busking and touring the bluegrass festival circuits and small venues for six years.
In 1995, Natalie Maines joined the Dixie Chicks, replacing their lead singer, Laura Lynch. With Maines as the lead vocalist, the band earned 10 Country Music Association Awards and 13 Grammy Awards. The band's debut album, Wide Open Spaces (1998), sold more than 12 million copies in the United States and was named Best Country Album at the 1999 Grammy Awards. The album included three No. 1 country hits: "There's Your Trouble", "You Were Mine", and the title track. "There's Your Trouble" also won the Grammy for Best Country Group Vocal Performance.
In 2006, with Maines still as the lead singer, the Dixie Chicks released Taking the Long Way. The album subsequently won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. The Dixie Chicks have won Best Country Album four times: Wide Open Spaces (1998), Fly (1999), Home (2002), and Taking the Long Way (2006). In addition to their Grammy Awards, the Dixie Chicks have also won several other awards, including eight Academy of Country Music Awards, four American Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, two Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, and two Radio Music Awards.
In March 2003, during the buildup to the Iraq War, Maines made controversial comments about then-US President George W. Bush, stating that she was ashamed that he was from her native Texas. As a result, the group received backlash and death threats, and many country radio stations banned their music. The Dixie Chicks maintained a relatively low profile until 2006 when they returned with a world tour and the release of Taking the Long Way.
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Frequently asked questions
Natalie Maines is the lead singer of The Chicks. She joined the band in 1995, replacing their founding lead singer Laura Lynch.
Laura Lynch left the band due to her weariness of touring and her desire to spend more time with her daughter.
The Chicks' most recent album is "Gaslighter", released in 2020. It was produced by Jack Antonoff and addressed Natalie Maines' divorce from actor Adrian Pasdar.
