The Dixie Chicks are planning to break up the band after the Grammy Awards in mid February of next year. At first I was going to report that two of the Dixie Chicks, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire, are fed up with pint-sized lead singer Natalie Maines’ continued political outspokenness. If you read Star Magazine’s “insider quote,” though, they just say that they are all tired and want to spend more time with their families, and that everyone has dealt with the repercussions of Natalie’s statements. From interviews I’ve read with them, they seem like they all stand by each other, and I would bet they just need a break:
The controversial country superstars have secretly decided to split up after the Grammy Awards – because Emily Robison and Martie Maguire no longer want to share the nest with outspoken Natalie Maines, say sources.
“The Chicks are tired and wrung out,” said a group insider. “They feel they’ve come to the end, and they want a break from each other to spend more time with their families.”
The three women, who have seven children among them, are at odds over Natalie’s blunt political ramblings. And while sources say sisters Emily and Martie share many of Natalie’s anti-George W. Bush views, they feel her public rants have taken the focus off their music.
“They’ve supported many of her political beliefs, even though it’s put their lives and the lives of their families in jeopardy,” said the insider.
“They’ve received death threats, and it’s made them all nervous wrecks.”
That’s too bad, but they’ve had plenty of success since they were banned from some conservative airways in 2003. Their concert attendance went down as a result, but their latest album, “Taking the Long Way,” did well on the charts.
The Dixie Chicks have been together since 1989, and originally had two additional members along with Martie and Emily. Natalie Maines joined as lead singer in 1995.
They are nominated for quite a few Grammy Awards: Record of the Year (Not Ready To Make Nice), Album of the Year (Taking The Long Way), Song of the Year (Not Ready To Make Nice), Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (Not Ready To Make Nice), Best Country Album (Taking The Long Way), and Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical (Rick Rubin on Taking The Long Way.)
I used to be a huge fan. Once they started to shoot their mouth off, I stopped listening. I can’t stand singers, actors, celebrities in general, that think anyone want to hear their opinion. What a turn off.
God bless the Dixie Chicks! At least they have a moral code. Who you are is as important as the work you produce. They are one and the same. That being said, I totally agree with anybody who dumped them after their anti-Bush rant. Freedom of speech cuts both ways.
I used to be annoyed sometimes when entertainers got political. Not now. Not in this day and age and certainly not in this country. We absoloutely need to hear voices that are not controlled by corporate media. Articulate musicians, actors, athletes etc. who have the world’s attention are the best American Ambassadors; not Karen Hughes or Condeleeza Rice or John Bolton! God Bless the courage of the Dixie Chicks. They make country cool!
Of course they’re entitled to their political opinions, but Natalie was just so smug about it that it really turned me off. They definitely create fabulous music, but I can’t bear to listen anymore because it just grates on my nerves…..gasp!
Yeah, it has to be true. I came from the most reliable source in the country:
The National Enquire!!! LOL
In reality they were away from their homes (Austin, TX) for almost a year and a half. Six months in LA writing and recording their new album and nearly all of 2006 promoting and touring so yes they did plan split up to roost at home for awhile for a little R&R and family time.
They are not disbanding; they are just taking some deserved time off.
There was a recent documentary about the Dixie Chicks. Its own account claims that the fellow band members were originally unenthusiastic about Natalie’s outspoken behavior, but they ended up rallying together over the issue.
The Dixie Chicks are not splitting up. It’s not true. To the person that said they don’t have a right to speak out because they are celebrities is a joke. They are human beings first and do not lose their rights to freedom of speech because they are musicians!
Good riddance to the three of them.
I used to enjoy some of their music, but I can’t stand anyone who shoots their mouth off, no matter what political party they belong to.
I usually don’t like country but I’d go see them and support them AS A RESULT of their brilliant outspokenness. Artists SHOULD use their position as a voice and example for helping to bring positive changes in this world – duh! All the rest just get drunk, trash hotel rooms and sleep around on their spouses. That is acceptable but having brains is not? Says a lot about people’s philosophies. I think they are great, hope they win lots of grammies so they can “abuse” their acceptance speech time, too, a la Fiona Apple. They will reunite, a break is totally acceptable and normal.
hey Larry in Texas-
what are you doing cutting and pasting the same response on all the blogs?
F*ck Natalie, she’s a loud mouthed bitch and I’m not just talking about her comments about Bush. I for one will be glad to have them disappear.
She said the first political thing that got people all riled up, fine. What irks me about her is that she’s still using it for publicity. I could care less about what she said, I’m Canadian, but their new song is f-ing annoying in a “I did one interesting thing in my career and I’m going to drag it out as long as I can in a vain attempt to keep people interested” way. Country sucks and she sounds like an annoying, mouthy little trol.
The presentation of her comment is what turned so many people off.
I don’t care for Bush either but the way she presented her view really turned me off.
I think for myself and don’t need anyone – celebrity, politician or movie star telling me how to think.
Good riddance.
They are smug little things, aren’t they? Can’t stand them, never could. I’m so tired of celebrities using their place to spout off their opinions. If I wanted to hear their opinion I’d have asked for it. When I buy a seat, CD or movie ticket–I am asking for entertainment, not their political point of view or pet project of the week!!
Annoying girls. I hope they disappear!
Jess–Did you ever consider that the reason Natalie and the rest of them are still talking about what happened is because it is IMPORTANT? This wasn’t some sort of hissy fight between Lindsay and Paris. This was about our right to Freedom of Speech and the fact that our President was invading a sovereign nation for fabricated reasons.
This issue has not gone away because the war is still raging and there is no end in sight. This issue has not gone away because some red states still don’t want The Dixie Chicks to perform beause of what Natalie said. The abuse they got after the incident is inexcusable and reprehensible and not at all what America is supposed to be about.
I am happy they fought back. It means there’s still hope for this country to come to its senses.
I wouldnt piss on them if they were on fire.
For the mental midget Larry who speaks out his ass all the time… Natalie moved to Los Angeles back in 2003 as a part of her extreme makeover into rock star complete with reconstructive surgery. The entire controversy that they asre still whinning about was manufactured from the very beginning. Consder yourself schooled lemming!
The reality is, the chicks lakc the creativity to put out albums every two years. So they come up with excuses time and time again to explain away why it tales them 4-5 years to put out another album.
Trust me, by 2010 when they release their next album…nobody will give a damn about them and theri faux case.
Wow I just LOVE it when people are so insistent they “think for themselves”. They eat the food the govt serves up for them at the grocery store, they listen to what their corporate-owned robot doctors and specialists say about their health, their subconscious minds are supposedly immune to the powerful effects of advertising. Why, just being on a Hollywood gossip site speaks volumes that they just own themselves SO much that they are totally immune to the guiles of culture. What a laugh. Thanks for the good one.
Ertarox – people are here for entertainment not fact research.
The government does not “serve up” the food at the grocery store. We live in a capitalist system and the food is raised by a combination of private farms and some corporate farms. The government inspects our food. And our grocery stores are privately/corporate owned. People also have the choice of raising their own food or buying locally from local producers.
Stop with the generalizing statements that people who follow the directions of corporate-owned doctors and specialists…..why is there a proliferation of websites such as WebMD, etc… for people to do their own research? Why do people seek out second and third opinions? I know of several people who have who spent hours at medical school libraries researching their health issues.
Yes, there are some people who do think for themselves. Unfortunately most people get an indoctrination now instead of an education. Free thinking does exist.
I like their music – but soley for their music. I do not care about their political beliefs, as I do not care about any celebrities political beliefs. Like someone mentioned above, I buy a seat, CD, or movie ticket to be entertained, not lectured on the way of the world.
If celebrities are to use their social standing their voice as a platform for what is right/wrong, then why haven’t they made any strides yet? Because no one takes them seriously! They’re celebrities!!
And as far as the Dixie Chicks, if they split up, that’s fine… as far as music goes, their latest album is the best by far – but they keep opening their mouths to the point where I don’t want to listen to it anymore.
In response to gossip – Emily and I love Natalie like a sister.
We are not disbanding.
We spent this entire year on the road and we will be taking a break to be with love ones. For our fans – We deeply appreciated your support, Thank You from the bottom of our hearts. Its been a wonderfully emotional, therapeutic although exhausting year for us, especially me. I believe our fantastic fans, especially those that have young ones so understand that we need some time to be with family.
Martie Maguire DCX
when guys get fired from their jobs,
the line is: “he (they) wanted to
spend more time with the family.”
bull.
girls lie too.
dixie chicks are done.
Dixie Chicks Haters – y’all are as bright as Alaska is in December.
Remember when Natalie issued a statement this past summer saying “We are NOT canceling any concerts”? They canceled 14. They are obviously not above lying to the few fans they have left to save face with others.
Buh-Bye Cowards!
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Sad to lose such a talented and always fresh sound as the Dixie Chicks.
Those with any smidgin of education know that the right to free speech is what makes this country great.
The Beatles said much worse.
FUTK
It is not what she said anyone disputed it was WHERE SHE SAID IT!!!!
On foreign soil!!!!! That was the huge controversy and why people turned against them! Had she said it on home soil people would have not like it but they would have said she has a right! They still say she had the right to say what she said… but NOT ON FOREIGN SOIL WHEN WE WERE GOING TO WAR!!!!
I believe that the Dixie Chicks will bounce back, thanks to the political friends they know in high places that seem to have pulled a few strings for them prior to the Grammys, as I’ve noted in this song:
Playin’ Politics (With the Dixie Chicks)
Dr BLT (c)2007
http://www.drblt.net/music/DixieChicks.mp3
i love the Dixie Chicks.. Go them.. they r awsome..
Everyone has the right to freedom of speech. Even if it is said on foreign soil. Ya, they should have said it in America but they didn’t. If they would have said it in America they may have been hurt at that concert.I agree with what they said and honestly I would have said much worse. I was very sad when they said they were going to break up but I think it is what they needed.
Everyone does make a good point but they still should not have been treated the way that they did. My only regret with them is that I never went to one of their concerts when I had the chance.
I will miss them much. They made great music together.
The Dixie Chicks is the greatest band in the world and always will be in my eyes