The Dixie Chicks formed in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. After years of struggle and changes in personnel, the group achieved large-scale country and pop commercial success starting in the late 1990s, with hit songs such as "Wide Open Spaces", "Cowboy Take Me Away", and "Long Time Gone". They became known for their lively group personae, instrumental virtuosity, fashion sense, and outspoken views. In particular, Natalie Maines' public criticism of President George W. Bush on the eve of the 2003 invasion of Iraq led to considerable controversy for the group, causing them to lose a large part of their core country audience, but gain a new if somewhat smaller audience in the process.

The Dixie Chicks are an American country music trio. Sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire (née Erwin) started the group with Robin Lynn Macy and Laura Lynch in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. Macy left the group in 1992, while Lynch was replaced with Natalie Maines in 1995.

They are currently the highest-selling female musical group in history, according to RIAA Gold & Platinum album certifications.

The group aroused considerable controversy for publicly denouncing President George W. Bush and the imminent invasion of Iraq during the European leg of their Top of the World tour supporting Home. Many country music stations immediately pulled their music from the air, and the band received criticism from many corners of the media.

Dixie Chicks released their latest album Taking the Long Way on May 23, 2006. All fourteen tracks were co-written by the Dixie Chicks and produced by Rick Rubin. This album received five Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group for "Not Ready to Make Nice," and Album of the Year and Best Country Album. Rick Rubin also won the Grammy for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, for his work with the Chicks and for his production on Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium.

The current members are:

Emily Robison (guitar, banjo, dobro, vocals)

Natalie Maines (lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar)

Martie Maguire (fiddle, mandolin, vocals)

marty and emily writing and recording as CourtYardHounds Feb 2010

Discography

Albums:

Thank Heavens for Dale Evans (1990)

Little Ol' Cowgirl (1992)

Shouldn't a Told You That (1993)

Wide Open Spaces (1998)

Fly (1999)

Home (2002)

Top of the World Tour: Live (2003)

Taking the Long Way (2006)

Home Videos:

An Evening with the Dixie Chicks (live concert DVD) (2002)

Top of the World Tour: Live (2003)

Official website: www.dixiechicks.com

The Dixie Chicks are a country music group, currently comprising Martie Maguire, Emily Robison and lead singer Natalie Maines. The group formed in 1989 in Dallas, Texas, and was originally composed of four women performing bluegrass and country music, busking and touring the bluegrass festival circuits and small venues for six years, without attracting a major label. After the departure of one bandmate, the replacement of their lead singer, and a slight change in their repertoire, the Dixie Chicks achieved massive country music and pop success, beginning in 1998 with hit songs like "Wide Open Spaces", "Cowboy Take Me Away", and "Long Time Gone". The women also became well-known for their independent spirit and controversial comments on subjects such as war and politics.

During a London concert ten days before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, lead vocalist Maines said, "we don't want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas" (the Dixie Chicks' home state). The statement offended some people, who thought it rude and unpatriotic, and the ensuing controversy cost the group half of their concert audience attendance in the United States and led to accusations of the three women being "un-American", as well as hate mail, a death threat, and the public destruction of their albums in protest.

As of 2009, they have won 13 Grammy Awards, with 5 of them earned in 2007 including the coveted Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Taking The Long Way. As of July 2010, with 30.5 million certified albums, and sales of 26,733,000 albums in the U.S., they have become the top selling female group in the U.S. during the Nielsen SoundScan era.