{"id":7460,"date":"2016-03-07T00:01:42","date_gmt":"2016-03-07T06:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/?p=7460"},"modified":"2016-03-07T13:03:56","modified_gmt":"2016-03-07T19:03:56","slug":"ready-to-make-nice-the-dixie-chicks-back-on-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/2016\/03\/07\/ready-to-make-nice-the-dixie-chicks-back-on-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Ready to Make Nice? The Dixie Chicks Back on Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"635832819257889654-dixie-chicks\"<\/a><\/span>The infamous Dallas-based Dixie Chicks, after 13 years in hiding, are finally scheduled to be back on tour this upcoming summer, just in time for the the 2016 presidential election. In case your memory has faded over the past decade, in 2003 many radio stations and fans criticized and boycotted the all-female band after lead singer, <\/span>Natalie Maines<\/span><\/a>, spoke out against the Iraq War and president at the time, George W. Bush, during the band\u2019s London, England tour. The news quickly spread back to the states, with Natalie saying, \u201cJust so you know, we\u2019re on the good side with y\u2019all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we\u2019re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.\u201d A substantial portion of fans and country music patriots alike were infuriated. Many of those offended by the comments reacted immediately, requesting that the Dixie Chicks songs stop receiving air-time.<\/span><\/p>\n

After receiving a barrage of complaints, many station managers complied and pulled the Dixie Chicks songs off the air. A station in Kansas City, Missouri even went as far as holding a \u201c<\/span>chicken toss<\/span><\/a>\u201d party encouraging people to dump the group’s tapes, CDs and concert tickets into trash cans. The reaction to Maines\u2019s words was fast acting and extreme. The trio began receiving death threats as well. The conservative country music crowd was outraged by comments they found unpatriotic. <\/span><\/p>\n

In response<\/span><\/a> to the harsh backlash, the band received from Maines\u2019 comment in London, in 2006, they released the song \u201cNot Ready to Make Nice.\u201d The song reflected how they felt about the controversy, the banning of their songs from country music radio stations, and freedom of speech. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI made my bed, and I sleep like a baby<\/span>
\n<\/span>With no regrets, and I don’t mind saying<\/span>
\n<\/span>It’s a sad, sad story<\/span>
\n<\/span>When a mother will teach her daughter<\/span>
\n<\/span>That she ought to hate a perfect stranger<\/span>
\n<\/span>And how in the world<\/span>
\n<\/span>Can the words that I said<\/span>
\n<\/span>Send somebody so over the edge<\/span>
\n<\/span>That they’d write me a letter<\/span>
\n<\/span>Saying that I better<\/span>
\n<\/span>Shut up and sing<\/span>
\n<\/span>Or my life will be over?\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The song became a huge hit, reaching number four on the billboard hot 100. MadTv even made a parody of the song. Later that year, they also made a <\/span>documentary<\/span><\/a> called <\/span>Shut Up and Sing, <\/span><\/i>which followed the girls as they dealt with the controversy. Even though the controversy is still largely associated with the band, since the results of the war, many feel that Maines comments were redeemed. Now 13 years after her initial comments, the band is finally going back on tour, and some might say just in time for the 2016 election. Lead singer Maines has not refrained from entering political controversy, offering her two cents on the Texas candidate <\/span>Ted Cruz<\/span><\/a>. This time, however, many of her comments are being met with applause. So will the upcoming election help or hurt their US tour, will people be more understanding, will they be met with huge crowds again? I am sure excited to find out.<\/span><\/p>\n