The Dixie Chicks are no strangers to controversy. In 2003, they caused a big stir for speaking out against then-President George W. Bush. At a concert, singer Natalie Maines made this declaration about the Iraq War:
“Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.”
Two days later, she clarified the remark by saying:
“I feel the president is ignoring the opinions of many in the US and alienating the rest of the world.”
Their ticket sales and record sales plummeted after the incident. George Bush had to say about the incident:
“The Dixie Chicks are free to speak their mind. They can say what they want to say.… they shouldn’t have their feelings hurt just because some people don’t want to buy their records when they speak out.… Freedom is a two-way street ….”
Many stations still don’t play the trio’s music. The concert was in London, but the comment was heard around the world. As of 2014, they’ve sold over 30 million albums, but they haven’t released a new album since 2006.
Well, now they are stirring up some controversy yet again. They kicked off their world tour last night with a show in Cinncinatti. They performed their 1999 song “Goodbye Earl” with a picture of Trump in the background adorned with devil horns, a comical moustache, and a goatee.
In January, Maines tweeted a funny remark about Trump:
As long as Donald Trump's decisions for America are as solid as his decision about his hair, we're in good shape.
— Natalie Maines (@1NatalieMaines) January 24, 2016
Here is what she had to say now about the 2003 incident:
“It all put an ugly light on people that I was kind of happily naive to. But when I was going through it, I really didn’t feel like it was affecting me. I was in fight mode and battle mode, and I felt, you know, I was right, and free to say what I want to say.”
https://youtu.be/HJzgQWUmoGc
Featured image via YouTube screengrab.
