The Chicks
American country band known for commercial success and political controversy.
Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA · CC BY 2.0
The Chicks, formerly the Dixie Chicks, are an American country music band formed in Dallas, Texas, in 1989. The group originally performed bluegrass and country music, and after several lineup changes, settled on the trio of Natalie Maines and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer. They achieved massive commercial success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, becoming the best-selling all-woman band and best-selling country group since Nielsen SoundScan began recording sales in 1991.
- notable_achievements
- 13 Grammy Awards, 33 million certified albums sold in the United States alone as of July 2020
Quick Facts
- Background
- group_or_band
- Alias
- Dixie Chicks
- Origin
- Dallas, Texas, U.S.
- Genre
- Country / bluegrass / country pop
- Years Active
- 1989–present
- Label
- Crystal Clear Sound / Monument Nashville / Columbia Nashville
- Spinoffs
- Court Yard Hounds
- Website
- thechicks.com
- Current Members
- Emily Strayer / Martie Maguire / Natalie Maines
- Past Members
- Robin Lynn Macy / Laura Lynch
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Chicks were founded as the Dixie Chicks in 1989 in Dallas, Texas, by sisters Martie and Emily Erwin (later Maguire and Strayer) with bassist Laura Lynch and singer-guitarist Robin Lynn Macy. They performed bluegrass and country music, busking and touring bluegrass festival circuits for six years. After Macy left in 1992 and Lynch took over vocals, the group independently released three albums before signing with Monument Records Nashville in 1995, with Natalie Maines replacing Lynch. Their first Monument album, Wide Open Spaces (1998), and its follow-up Fly (1999) were both certified diamond.
In 2003, while on stage in London, the Dixie Chicks publicly criticized US president George W. Bush and the imminent Iraq War, triggering a backlash that damaged sales of their 2002 album Home. They released Taking the Long Way in 2006 and entered hiatus in 2008, during which Martie and Emily recorded as the duo Court Yard Hounds. The Dixie Chicks reunited in 2016 for a series of tours. In 2020, they removed 'Dixie' from their name due to negative connotations and released their first album in 14 years, Gaslighter.
Reader's Guide
The Chicks are significant for their commercial dominance as a female-led country group, with 22 chart entries on Billboard Hot Country Songs and six number-one singles. Their 13 Grammy Awards, ten Country Music Association awards, and eight Academy of Country Music awards underscore their industry impact. By July 2020, they had sold 33 million certified albums worldwide and 27.9 million albums in the US, making them the best-selling all-woman band and best-selling country group since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. Their 2003 political controversy marked a pivotal moment in the intersection of country music and public discourse, leading to a temporary decline in sales but ultimately a legacy of resilience and artistic independence. The 2020 name change reflected broader cultural shifts, and their reunion tours and album Gaslighter demonstrated enduring relevance.
Did You Know?
- The band name was taken from the album Dixie Chicken by Lowell George of Little Feat.
- In 1990, Penny Cook, a friend of the band, loaned the Dixie Chicks $10,000 to record their debut album.
- Martie Maguire won second place in 1987 and third place in 1989 in the national fiddle championships at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas.
- The Chicks have charted 23 times on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, with six number-one singles.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are The Chicks?
The Chicks are an American country trio based out of Dallas, Texas, formed back in 1989. The current lineup consists of lead vocalist Natalie Maines along with her sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer, who handle guitar and bass respectively.
Why did the group rebrand from Dixie Chicks to The Chicks?
In 2020 the trio officially dropped the word 'Dixie' from their name, a term many fans and critics associated with Confederate-era symbolism. The change reflected their desire to move past that baggage while keeping the core identity of the band intact.
What are The Chicks's biggest commercial milestones?
As of July 2020 they had moved 33 million certified albums in the United States alone, making them the best-selling all-woman act and the top-selling country group since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. Their peak commercial run spanned the late 1990s through the early 2000s.
How many Grammy Awards has the group won?
The Chicks have collected 13 Grammy Awards over the course of their career, spanning categories from Best New Artist to Album of the Year. Those wins cemented their status as one of the most decorated acts in modern country music.
What political controversy is The Chicks most known for?
In 2003, Natalie Maines made a public remark at a concert criticizing then-President George W. Bush, which triggered a wave of backlash from the country-music establishment and radio stations. The incident became a defining moment in the band's story and sparked wider debate about artist speech in the genre.
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