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The Chicks (Formerly the Dixie Chicks)

October 29, 2026 4

A banjo, a fiddle and three voices that blew the doors off late-’90s country. The Chicks sold more albums than any female group in country history, then lived through one of music’s biggest controversies and came back on their own terms. From our guide to country music artists.

The Chicks at a glance

Members	Natalie Maines (lead vocals), Martie Maguire (fiddle, mandolin), Emily Strayer (banjo, dobro)
From	Dallas, Texas
Major-label debut	Wide Open Spaces (1998)
GRAMMYs	13, including Album of the Year for Taking the Long Way
Name	The Dixie Chicks until 2020

The Chicks story

Sisters Martie and Emily started the group in Dallas as a bluegrass busking act. When Natalie Maines joined, they signed a major-label deal, and Wide Open Spaces and Fly became two of the best-selling country albums of their era.

2003 and after

In 2003, during a London concert, Maines criticized the U.S. president over the coming Iraq war. Country radio dropped their songs almost overnight. Their response, Taking the Long Way (2006), won five GRAMMYs, including Album of the Year.

A new name

In 2020 they dropped “Dixie” from their name and released Gaslighter.

The Chicks' best songs

“Wide Open Spaces” – A coming-of-age anthem.
“There’s Your Trouble” – Their first No. 1.
“Cowboy Take Me Away” – A romantic escape.
“Goodbye Earl” – A dark-comedy revenge tale.
“Landslide” – A gorgeous Fleetwood Mac cover.
“Travelin’ Soldier” – A heartbreaking wartime story.
“Not Ready to Make Nice” – A defiant GRAMMY winner.
“Gaslighter” – The 2020 comeback.

Their place in country history

The Chicks are one of the defining acts among the women who changed country music. Read more in our history of country music.

If you like The Chicks

Try Carrie Underwood for powerhouse vocals and storytelling, and Rascal Flatts for harmony-driven 2000s hits.

The Chicks FAQs

Why did the Dixie Chicks change their name?

In 2020 they dropped “Dixie” because of its associations with the Confederacy and slavery.

Who are the members of The Chicks?

Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer.

How many GRAMMYs have The Chicks won?

Thirteen.

Sources

The Chicks official site · Recording Academy

How we report: Facts on this page come from the sources listed above and are checked by a second editor. Read our editorial standards. Spot an error? Tell us.