The Dixie Chicks Biography

The original members of the Dixie Chicks were the sisters Martie Erwin and Emily Erwin, Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy. Martie and Emily have married and their names are now Martie Maguire and Emily Robison.

Robin Lynn Macy left in late 1992, preferring a "purer" bluegrass sound. She joined Sara Hickman and Patty Lege to form the group Domestic Science Club, which issued two albums before disbanding. Macy later founded a group called Big Twang, which cut one CD before its band members went their separate ways.

Laura Lynch was replaced in 1995 by Natalie Maines, daughter of producer and steel guitar player Lloyd Maines. The new lineup had a massive hit with their album Wide Open Spaces on Sony's Monument label. This was followed by another smash hit CD, Fly. As of early 2005 these albums have sold over 12 million and 10 million copies respectively.

In September 2001 the Dixie Chicks debuted their song "I Believe in Love" on the America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The group was involved in a dispute with their record label for two years, and their next album Home was an independent production, produced by Lloyd Maines and released in 2002 after the Chicks and Sony reconciled their differences. Despite having a "non-commercial" sound – unlike the two previous records, Home lacks drums and is dominated by very-up-tempo bluegrass and pensive ballads - it was also a major success and has sold over 6 million copies (which might have been more but for the political controversy to come). Home dominated the 2003 Grammy Awards, winning four of them, including Best Country Album. Tickets for the associated Top of the World Tour often sold out within hours.

In September 2005 the Dixie Chicks debuted their song "I Hope" on the Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast telethon following Hurricane Katrina, and subsequently made it available as a digital download single with proceeds to benefit hurricane relief.

In January 2006, Entertainment Weekly reported that the Dixie Chicks were going to release their new album in April 2006. According to the magazine, the Dixie Chicks do not expect that country radio will play their music. As of the week of March 4th, 2006, further information, including a delayed release date, has been released. Their upcoming album, titled Taking The Long Way, is to be released on May 23rd, 2006. The album was produced by Rick Rubin (who has worked with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, System of a Down, Neil Diamond, Beastie Boys, among others) and is publicized to be more rock-intensive than country-oriented. (edit)

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