The Dixie Chicks took home five awards at last night’s Grammys, one in every category they were nominated for. They are said to be planning to break up now that the Grammys are over, as they want to slow down and spend more time with their families. People say that it shows that lead singer Natalie Maines’ outspoken opposition in the first stage of the war, while extremely controversial at the time, has been accepted. Now they’re being honored for their music instead of being bitch-slapped for their political views:
The Dixie Chicks won all five awards they were nominated for, sweet vindication after the superstars’ lives were threatened and sales plummeted when Maines criticized President Bush on the eve of the Iraq war in 2003. Almost overnight, one of the most successful groups of any genre was boycotted by Nashville and disappeared from country radio.
With “Taking the Long Way,” the women relied on producer Rick Rubin’s guidance for an album that was more rock and less country. (Rubin, who also produced “Stadium Arcadium,” was honored as producer of the year.)
The standing ovations the Chicks received Sunday illustrated how much the political climate has changed regarding the Iraq war, and even Bush.
“That’s interesting,” Maines crowed from the podium after the country award was handed out earlier in the night. “Well, to quote the great ‘Simpsons’ — ‘Heh-Heh.’
“Just kidding,” added Maines. “A lot of people just turned their TVs off right now. I’m very sorry for that.”
Bandmate Emily Robison noted, “We wouldn’t have done this album without everything we went through, so we have no regrets.”
Maybe they’ll see this as their high point and decide to call it quits, or it’s possible they’ll stay together now that all their hard work has been vindicated.
It sounds kind of stupid for Maines to use Nelson’s catchphrase like that, and it’s typical of her to blurt stuff out. At least she apologized afterwards, and maybe it didn’t come off like that at the Grammys. I totally agree with her about the war, and I did at the time she said it, but she still comes off as mouthy to me and kind of abrasive. Maybe that’s just the way the media portrayed her, but if she’s saying shit like “ha ha!” at the Grammys, they probably weren’t far off.
Pictures from Gossip Rocks.
Interesting how they were blacklisted just a few years ago because of Natalie’s anti-Bush comments and now they are the Darlings of the Grammy’s. I wonder if this is some indication of Americas change of heart toward the Bush administration? Maybe this is just another sign that Bush has fallen from favour with the American public.
This has nothing to do about Bush. It is a sign that the Dixie Chicks are done with and the music industry, being as screwed up as Hollywood is, is just paying tribute to another embaressment. Face it, the Dixie Chicks are not the brightest tools in the shed. Neither is the music industry. Didn’t Ludacris thank Oprah and Bill O’Reilly? I did not watch the Grammies. My wife did and she said it was boring and Justin Timberlake and Beyonce CANNOT sing. I won’t waste my time watching these idiots pat themselves on the back for being idiots. JMHO.
Regards to all.
Nashville and those who rely on it (aka radio stations-owned by W’s best friends) took the Dixie Chicks to task for comments which made people think. Country music to me seems to be too micro and not at all macro in its thought…the Chicks brought the world to the stage and question one of its own…if Charlie Daniels (who was a BIG anti-Chick guy) were to speak out about President Clinton and his use of a cigar would the COuntry world still ban him? I doubt it!
People all over the United States need to question authority and ask why, how, when and how much (lives,money etc) people seem to take more time in learning about a new car purchase then they do about heading to war.
As i have read before…If Your NOt Outraged Your Not Paying Attention!
Don’t like their music but caught them on the Howard Stern show and they were really cool.
The thing that Emily and Martie seemed to get, but Natalie, and apparently a number of people here, can comprehend is that the award was for their MUSIC, not their politics. Regardless of how anyone feels about what was said they are three amazingly talented musicians….. music being what a Grammy is given for.
Quite frankly, it’s gotten to the point where I think they’re milking scandal as much as they can. Sad. When did that line cross for them between it being about the music and being about the attention.
Rather see Natalie take the high road and been very gracious.
how many people here have HEARD their recent album? No one talked about it in my neck of the woods and the one person I asked scoffed at the notion of FIVE grammies for an album that fell out of the country charts and never made it to rock?
for anti-bushites who are so DESPARATE for any vindication, they will take anything.
also, don’t forget these musical geniuses also dissed the View. TO me that was pr suicide
I Don’t listen to da Chicks music and could care less bout their political views but they score points with me for dissing the View.
Heres a preview sample of the Dixie Chicks “Not Ready to Make Nice” parody with a little Asian flair in the mix:
Not Ready to Make Rice
(Dr BLTs Dixie Chicks Nix Mix)
Words and music by Dr. BLT ©2007
http://www.drblt.net/music/NotReady2P.mp3
Anticipated release date: Friday, Feb. 23, 2007
and if you still haven’t heard my Dixie Chicks Grammys protest song, here it is, for your listening pleasure:
Playin’ Politics (With the Dixie Chicks)
Dr BLT (c)2007
http://www.drblt.net/music/DixieChicks.mp3
when i was watching the grammys i did not feel that maines was being mouthy at all. it was just a joke. people need to stop blowing things out of proportion