In a genre that had Johnny Cash sing about shooting a man “just to watch him die” and Loretta Lynn singing the praises of contraception, it’s hard to believe that the Dixie Chicks are some of the most controversial country act. Former in 1989 in Dallas, the group – Robin Lynn Macy, Laura Lynch, Emily Robison, Martie Maguire – began busking and touring the bluegrass festival circuits. After a lineup change saw Robin and Laura depart, with Natalie Maines join the group, the band started to experience commercial success. Their 1998 album, ‘Wide Open Spaces,’ is considered their breakout, with singles ‘You Were Mine,’ ‘There’s Your Trouble’ and the title track all hitting the charts. Their 1999 album ‘Fly’ would produce such iconic songs as ‘Goodbye Earl,’ ‘Cowboy Take Me Away’ and ‘Without You.’ However, their success was stalled in 2003, after they expressed opposition to then-President George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq. Country music pulled them from the radio due to criticism from right-wing listeners (aka the bulk of country music radio listeners at the time) and the group faced protests, boycotts and death threats. However, they would continue to find success. In 2006, they released ‘Taking the Long Way,’ their best-selling album (and most critically acclaimed. It swept the 2007 Grammy Awards, winning Song, Record and Album of the Year.)
