Sophie Bennett
The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, were founded in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. The founding members were Laura Lynch, Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Maguire (née Erwin), and Emily Strayer (née Erwin/Robison). Martie and Emily were sisters and multi-instrumentalists, Laura played the upright bass, and Robin played the guitar. Martie and Emily founded the band with Laura and Robin, and they performed bluegrass and country music together for six years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1989 |
| Founding members | Laura Lynch, Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Maguire (née Erwin), Emily Strayer (née Erwin/Robison) |
| Founding location | Dallas, Texas |
| Genre | Country, Bluegrass |
| Instruments played by founding members | Bass, Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Banjo, Dobro |
| Members who left | Robin Lynn Macy (1992/1993), Laura Lynch (1993/1995) |
| Members who joined | Natalie Maines (replaced Laura Lynch) |
| Albums released before Laura Lynch's departure | Thank Heavens for Dale Evans (1990), Little Ol’ Cowgirl (1992), Shouldn’t a Told You That (1993) |
| Year of name change | 2020 |
| Reason for name change | "Dixie" was used as a romantic reference to the Confederate South |
| New name | The Chicks |
| Year Laura Lynch passed away | 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
Laura Lynch, founding member and bassist, passed away in 2023
Laura Lynch, a founding member and bassist of the Dixie Chicks, passed away in 2023 at the age of 65. Lynch co-founded the group in 1989 with Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (née Erwin), and singer and guitarist Robin Lynn Macy. The Dixie Chicks, now officially known as The Chicks, is an influential all-women country music band from Dallas, Texas.
Before her departure from the group in 1993, Lynch shared lead vocal duties with Macy. After Macy left in 1992, Lynch took over vocals until she was replaced by Natalie Maines in 1995. During her time with the Dixie Chicks, Lynch recorded three albums: "Thank Heavens for Dale Evans" (1990), "Little Ol' Cowgirl" (1992), and "Shouldn't a Told You That" (1993).
Following her departure, Lynch went on to become a math teacher and continued to pursue her passion for music. She was loved and respected by her students and colleagues, who remembered her as a talented and dedicated educator.
Lynch's death came as a shock to the members of The Chicks, who issued a joint statement expressing their sadness and honouring Lynch's memory: "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and travelling together. Laura was a bright light... her infectious energy and humour gave a spark to the early days of our band."
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed Lynch's death, which resulted from a traffic collision in El Paso, Texas. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Lynch's legacy lives on through her contributions to country music and the impact she had on her bandmates and students.
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Martie Maguire, née Erwin, is a founding member and multi-instrumentalist
The Dixie Chicks initially played predominantly bluegrass and a mix of country standards. Martie and Emily provided most of the instrumentation while Lynch and Macy shared lead vocal duties. In 1992, Macy left the group, with Lynch taking over vocals. After independently releasing three albums, in 1995, the Dixie Chicks were signed by Monument Records Nashville, and Natalie Maines replaced Lynch. Martie also contributed vocals in addition to her instrumental work.
The Dixie Chicks' genre-spanning versatility quickly attracted fans from outside the country music genre. Their album Fly (1999) and the hit single "Ready to Run" earned them additional Grammys, and another of the album's singles, the morbidly comic "Goodbye Earl," became one of the group's best-known songs. In 2003, Home (2002), a return to their acoustic roots, was named the best country album at the Grammy Awards.
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. The album's sound, decidedly more rock than country, clearly signaled the Dixie Chicks' desire to move on to new musical possibilities and audiences. In 2020, the group changed its name to "The Chicks," removing the "Dixie" due to its association with the Confederate South. They released the protest song "March March," with a music video directed by Seanne Farmer, in tribute to social justice movements.
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Emily Strayer, née Robison/Erwin, is a founding member and multi-instrumentalist
The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, was founded in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. The founding members included Laura Lynch, Robin Lynn Macy, and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (née Robison/Erwin).
Strayer and Maguire formed the core of the Dixie Chicks, providing most of the instrumentation while the other members, Lynch and Macy, shared lead vocal duties. The Dixie Chicks initially played a mix of bluegrass and country music, busking and performing at small venues and bluegrass festivals. Strayer's instrumental prowess contributed to the band's unique sound and helped them stand out in the country music scene.
In addition to her musical contributions, Strayer also played a role in the band's image and creative direction. After the departure of Laura Lynch in 1993, the Dixie Chicks underwent a transformation. With the addition of Natalie Maines as the new lead singer, the band evolved from their early cowgirl image and sound, broadening their appeal and attracting fans from outside the country music genre. Strayer and the other band members actively participated in shaping their artistic trajectory.
Strayer has been a pivotal member of the Dixie Chicks throughout their career, including their name change to The Chicks in 2020. She has contributed to the band's musical evolution, incorporating various instruments and exploring new sounds and genres. The Dixie Chicks have released multiple albums and gained widespread popularity, with Strayer's multi-instrumental talents being a key component of their success.
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Robin Lynn Macy was an early guitarist who shared vocal duties
The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, were founded in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. The founding members included Laura Lynch, Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Maguire (née Martie Erwin), and Emily Strayer (née Emily Erwin). The Erwin sisters were previously members of the bluegrass group Blue Night Express.
Robin Lynn Macy, a guitarist and vocalist, was one of the original members of the Dixie Chicks. She shared lead vocal duties with Laura Lynch until her departure in 1992 or 1993. Macy was a Californian who played the guitar and shared vocal duties with Lynch. After she left the group, Lynch took over as the sole lead vocalist until she was replaced by Natalie Maines in 1995.
The Dixie Chicks initially performed bluegrass and country music, busking and touring the bluegrass festival circuits and small venues for six years. All four founding members played instruments and sang, although Martie and Emily provided most of the instrumentation. The band's early sound was predominantly bluegrass and a mix of country standards.
After Macy's departure, the remaining members of the Dixie Chicks continued to perform and record music. They independently released three albums before signing with Monument Records Nashville in 1995. With the addition of Maines, the band's image and sound evolved, broadening their appeal. The Dixie Chicks went on to achieve crossover success in the pop market and became known for their instrumental prowess and genre-spanning versatility.
In 2020, the Dixie Chicks changed their name to The Chicks, inspired by the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. They released their first studio album in 14 years, titled "Gaslighter", and continue to create and perform music.
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Natalie Maines
The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, were founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1989. The original lineup consisted of Laura Lynch, Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Erwin (now Martie Maguire), and Emily Erwin (now Emily Strayer). Natalie Maines was not a founding member of the band. She joined in 1995, after leaving Berklee College of Music, replacing Laura Lynch as the lead singer.
Maines was born in Lubbock, Texas, in 1974 and began singing at age three. During her time in high school, she played in a band, which broke up after three gigs. She went on to attend Berklee College, where she received a full vocal scholarship. After leaving Berklee, she auditioned for the Dixie Chicks, who were looking for a lead singer at the time. She won the audition and joined the band.
With Maines as the lead vocalist, the Dixie Chicks earned 10 Country Music Association Awards and 13 Grammy Awards for their work between 1998 and 2007. Their first album with Maines, Wide Open Spaces, was released in 1998, followed by Fly in 1999. Both albums were certified diamond. 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.
In addition to her success with the Dixie Chicks, Maines has also pursued solo projects. She released her solo album, Mother, on May 7, 2013. She has also been involved in acting and directing, appearing in projects such as Grand Champion and Shut Up & Sing.
In 2020, the Dixie Chicks changed their name to The Chicks, removing the reference to the "Confederate South" from their name. They released their first album in 14 years, Gaslighter, which was inspired by Maines' divorce from actor Adrian Pasdar. The album included the protest song "March March", a tribute to social justice movements.
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Frequently asked questions
The Dixie Chicks were founded in 1989 by Laura Lynch, Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Maguire (née Martie Erwin) and Emily Strayer (née Emily Erwin).
Laura Lynch played the upright bass and sang lead vocals.
Robin Lynn Macy played the guitar and also sang lead vocals.
Martie Maguire played the fiddle, violin and mandolin.
Emily Strayer played the banjo, guitar, dobro and bass.
