The Chicks are one of country music's most influential and boundary-pushing groups. Formed in Dallas, Texas, in 1989 by sisters Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire, The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks) rocketed to pop stardom with the addition of lead vocalist Natalie Maines in 1995. The multi-platinum trio would go on to win 12 Grammy Awards and become the best-selling female band of all time in the U.S., with 33 million albums sold worldwide. By blending honky-tonk with bluegrass and soaring pop vocals, The Chicks appealed to a diverse audience that stretched far beyond their country roots.
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For decades, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison, and Marie Maguire have been wowing audiences with their decidedly modern take on classic country, channeling the boldness of past greats like Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton while adding hints of fiddle and banjo to robust, harmony-rich pop gems. Their lengthy career has led to collaborations with fellow Texan Beyoncé on her country-fried 'Lemonade' track "Daddy Lessons" and providing harmonies for comedy hero--and bluegrass champion--Steve Martin on the gorgeous ballad "You," while also captivating audiences around the world with their astonishing talent and seamless update of classic Americana.
Formed in Dallas in 1989, The Chicks (formerly known as "The Dixie Chicks") began as a bluegrass band, with sisters Maguire and Robison showing off their instrumental talents (Maguire's know-how includes double bass, mandolin, and viola; Robison's repertoire includes dobro, lap steel, and sitar) on bluegrass and country chestnuts. As the Chicks' stature grew, their music added more contemporary touches, which led to Lubbock-born Natalie Maines joining the group as lead singer in 1995. 'Wide Open Spaces,' the group's rollicking, major-label debut and first album with Maines on vocals, was a smash critically and commercially, winning the 1999 Grammy for Best Country Album, selling 12 million copies, and launching three singles, including the title track and the rueful "There's Your Trouble," to the top spot on Billboard's Country Songs chart. 'Fly,' released in 2000, also won the Best Country Album Grammy, and singles like the vengeful "Goodbye Earl" and the longing "Without You" became touchstones for 21st-century Nashville; 'Home,' its 2002 follow-up, featured the group's crystalline reinvention of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" and their wartime chronicle "Travelin' Soldier." While the Chicks haven't released a studio album since 2006's 'Taking the Long Way,' the group's resilience and continued honing of their craft shine on the 2017 live album 'DCX MMXVI Live,' a memento of their 2015-2016 tour where they showcased a wide range of influences, covering not only Beyoncé but punk-blues duo The White Stripes and neo-miserablist Lana Del Rey in between renditions of their indelible hits.
The Chicks are one of country music's most influential and boundary-pushing groups. Formed in Dallas, Texas, in 1989 by sisters Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire, The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks) rocketed to pop stardom with the addition of lead vocalist Natalie Maines in 1995. The multi-platinum trio would go on to win 12 Grammy Awards and become the best-selling female band of all time in the U.S., with 33 million albums sold worldwide. By blending honky-tonk with bluegrass and soaring pop vocals, The Chicks appealed to a diverse audience that stretched far beyond their country roots.
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For decades, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison, and Marie Maguire have been wowing audiences with their decidedly modern take on classic country, channeling the boldness of past greats like Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton while adding hints of fiddle and banjo to robust, harmony-rich pop gems. Their lengthy career has led to collaborations with fellow Texan Beyoncé on her country-fried 'Lemonade' track "Daddy Lessons" and providing harmonies for comedy hero--and bluegrass champion--Steve Martin on the gorgeous ballad "You," while also captivating audiences around the world with their astonishing talent and seamless update of classic Americana.
Formed in Dallas in 1989, The Chicks (formerly known as "The Dixie Chicks") began as a bluegrass band, with sisters Maguire and Robison showing off their instrumental talents (Maguire's know-how includes double bass, mandolin, and viola; Robison's repertoire includes dobro, lap steel, and sitar) on bluegrass and country chestnuts. As the Chicks' stature grew, their music added more contemporary touches, which led to Lubbock-born Natalie Maines joining the group as lead singer in 1995. 'Wide Open Spaces,' the group's rollicking, major-label debut and first album with Maines on vocals, was a smash critically and commercially, winning the 1999 Grammy for Best Country Album, selling 12 million copies, and launching three singles, including the title track and the rueful "There's Your Trouble," to the top spot on Billboard's Country Songs chart. 'Fly,' released in 2000, also won the Best Country Album Grammy, and singles like the vengeful "Goodbye Earl" and the longing "Without You" became touchstones for 21st-century Nashville; 'Home,' its 2002 follow-up, featured the group's crystalline reinvention of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" and their wartime chronicle "Travelin' Soldier." While the Chicks haven't released a studio album since 2006's 'Taking the Long Way,' the group's resilience and continued honing of their craft shine on the 2017 live album 'DCX MMXVI Live,' a memento of their 2015-2016 tour where they showcased a wide range of influences, covering not only Beyoncé but punk-blues duo The White Stripes and neo-miserablist Lana Del Rey in between renditions of their indelible hits.
The Chicks are one of country music's most influential and boundary-pushing groups. Formed in Dallas, Texas, in 1989 by sisters Emily Strayer and Mart...
The Chicks are one of country music's most influential and boundary-pushing groups. Formed in Dallas, Texas, in 1989 by sisters Emily Strayer and Mart...