Summary
For years the Dixie Chicks ruled the country music charts with their alt-country sound. Though sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison had played on the road for years, it wasn't until they met singer Natalie Maines in 1995 that they found the missing piece for a commercially successful band. Their first album with Sony Records, Wide Open Spaces, sold more than 11 million copies, making it the highest-selling debut album in the history of country music. The off-the-charts success also propelled the Dixie Chicks into nationwide fame. Hits such as "Goodbye Earl" and "Long Time Gone" solidified their place among country music's elite. Subsequent albums Fly, Home, and Taking the Long Way saw the Dixie Chicks turning every tune into gold, then platinum. But the band was not without controversy. While playing a show in England, lead singer Natalie Maines made statements disagreeing with then-President George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq, causing a media and fan backlash against the band. In 2006, the Dixie Chicks released Taking the Long Way, which debuted at number 1 on the charts, but fan support was not universal. After taking a hiatus, the Dixie Chicks are rumored to be back in the studio, creating more genre-bending hits for country and pop music fans. In The Dixie Chicks, read how the members of this band defied country music convention.