Claire Thompson
Natalie Maines joined the Dixie Chicks in 1995, replacing their lead singer Laura Lynch. With Maines as the lead vocalist, the band earned 13 Grammy Awards and 10 Country Music Association Awards for their work between 1998 and 2007. Their first hit was Without You, which topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. In 2002, the Dixie Chicks released Long Time Gone, which charted at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The band's success, however, was marred by a public feud with country music superstar Toby Keith over the song Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, as well as comments made by Maines about US President George W. Bush during a 2003 concert in London, which led to a backlash and death threats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First professional recording | Lead vocals on "White Women's Clothes" from Andy Wilkinson's album "Charlie Goodnight's Life in Poetry and Song" |
| First commercially released work | Background vocals on Pat Green's debut album "Dancehall Dreamer" |
| Year joined the Dixie Chicks | 1995 |
| Position in the band | Lead vocalist and guitarist |
| Awards | 10 Country Music Association Awards and 13 Grammy Awards |
| First hit | "Without You" from the album "Fly" |
| First album as lead singer | "Taking the Long Way" |
| Recent album | "Gaslighter" |
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What You'll Learn
Natalie Maines joined the Dixie Chicks in 1995
With Maines as the frontwoman, the Dixie Chicks went on to earn 10 Country Music Association Awards and 13 Grammy Awards for their work between 1998 and 2007. Their first major success came with the 2002 album, Home, which sold approximately six million copies in the United States. The album was led by a cover of Darrell Scott's "Long Time Gone", which charted at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two on the Hot Country Songs chart. The Dixie Chicks also found success with their covers of "Landslide" and "Travelin' Soldier", which peaked at number two and number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, respectively.
In 2006, the Dixie Chicks released their ninth-best-selling album in the United States, Taking the Long Way. The album won five Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year for "Not Ready to Make Nice", and Album of the Year. "Not Ready to Make Nice" also re-entered the charts at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Despite their success, the Dixie Chicks also faced backlash for their political views. In March 2003, Maines made a comment during a London performance, stating that the band was “ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas", referring to George W. Bush and the impending Iraq War. This comment led to a public feud with country music star Toby Keith and resulted in boycotts and death threats against the band.
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Without You was their first hit, with Maines on lead vocals
Natalie Maines joined the Dixie Chicks in 1995, replacing 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.
The first hit song with Maines on lead vocals was "Without You", from the Dixie Chicks' album "Fly". The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Maines also co-wrote six songs in total for the Chicks' next three albums, including "Without You".
In 2006, with Maines still as the lead singer, the Dixie Chicks released "Taking the Long Way". The album won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the country album charts. The Dixie Chicks' success continued, and in 2020 they released their first album in 14 years, "Gaslighter", which marked their fifth time appearing as No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Album chart.
Despite their success, the Dixie Chicks and Maines faced significant backlash in 2003 due to Maines' criticism of President George W. Bush and the Iraq War. During a performance in London, Maines stated that the band was “ashamed” that Bush was from their home state of Texas. This led to denunciation, death threats, and the band being dubbed “traitors" and "Saddam's Angels". The incident had a significant impact on their career, with local radio stations organizing CD-burning protests and US conglomerates banning them from the airwaves.
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The Dixie Chicks' political comments in 2003 caused controversy
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. During the show, lead singer Natalie Maines made comments that the band didn't want this war, this violence and that they were ashamed the President of the United States [George W. Bush] was from Texas.
The Dixie Chicks were already perceived as dangerous and politically outspoken, and these comments caused significant controversy in the American country music establishment. Many country fans and radio stations supported the impending invasion of Iraq and President Bush. Maines' comments were interpreted as an insult to American troops and an attack on their morale, and the band was criticised for criticising the president in a foreign country. The Dixie Chicks were blacklisted by many country radio stations, and their singles fell in the Billboard Hot 100. The band also received death threats, boycotts, and their CDs were bulldozed.
The term 'Dixie-Chicked' became a way to describe the backlash the band received, and the incident had a major effect on the Dixie Chicks and many other artists. The band's members faced economic and emotional impacts, and the controversy caused a 14-year break in their music career. In 2006, the Dixie Chicks released the album "Taking the Long Way", which won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.
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The band won five Grammys in 2007 for Taking the Long Way
In 2006, Natalie Maines was the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks when they released their album "Taking the Long Way". The album was Maines's first as the sole songwriter for all 14 tracks. It was the fourth Dixie Chicks album in a row to win Country Album of the Year at the Grammys.
The album also won the Dixie Chicks their third Grammy for Album of the Year. They also took home Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The Dixie Chicks won all five categories for which they were nominated. This was a bold statement by the Academy, as the band had been embroiled in controversy since 2003, when Maines publicly criticised then-US President George W. Bush and the Iraq War.
The album's first single, "Not Ready to Make Nice", was written in response to the backlash the band received after Maines's comments. The song won the group three of their five Grammys. The album also won the Juno Award for International Album of the Year in 2007.
"Taking the Long Way" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over 2.5 million copies in the US. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in July 2007. The album was also a success in Canada and Europe, reaching the top position in Sweden and entering the top ten in Germany and Australia.
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Maines co-wrote songs on multiple Dixie Chicks albums
Natalie Maines joined the Dixie Chicks in 1995, replacing their lead singer Laura Lynch. Maines co-wrote songs on multiple Dixie Chicks albums. She co-wrote six songs for the band's next three albums, including the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart number one hit "Without You" on Fly. Maines and Martie co-wrote four of the twelve tracks on the Dixie Chicks' 2002 album Home. They collaborated with country singer-songwriter Marty Stuart on "I Believe in Love" and "Tortured, Tangled Hearts".
In 2006, with Maines still as lead singer, the Dixie Chicks released Taking the Long Way, which won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Maines was the primary songwriter on all 14 tracks of the album, which peaked at No. 1 on the country album charts. The Dixie Chicks' new album, Gaslighter, was released in 2020 after a 14-year silence. The album marked the band's fifth time appearing as No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Album chart.
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Frequently asked questions
Natalie Louise Maines is an American musician and the lead vocalist for the country band the Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks.
In 1995, Maines was recruited by the Dixie Chicks to replace their lead singer, Laura Lynch.
The first hit by the Dixie Chicks featuring Natalie Maines was "Without You", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
Yes, in 2003, Maines publicly criticised Toby Keith's song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue", saying that it "makes country music sound ignorant". This led to a feud between Maines and Keith, and the Dixie Chicks were dubbed "Dixie Sluts" and "Saddam's Angels". The band was also dropped from US radio and received death threats.
Yes, in 2006, the Dixie Chicks released the album "Taking the Long Way", which won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. The band also released new music in 2020, including the album "Gaslighter".
