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The Chicks discography
The Chicks discography
The Chicks discography
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The Chicks discography
Studio albums8
Live albums2
Compilation albums2
Singles27
Video albums5
Music videos16
No. 1 Singles7

The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks) are an American country music band composed of Natalie Maines, along with Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire, who are sisters. Their discography comprises eight studio albums, two live albums and 27 singles.

Founded in 1989 as a more bluegrass-oriented band with Maguire and Strayer—then going by their birth surnames of Erwin—along with Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy, the band did not achieve mainstream success until Lynch and Macy left and were replaced by lead singer Natalie Maines. Shortly after her joining, the band signed to Monument Records, releasing their breakthrough album Wide Open Spaces in 1998. Both it and its followup, 1999's Fly, earned the group several Grammy Awards and chart singles. Two more albums, Home and Taking the Long Way, followed in 2002 and 2006, respectively, on Columbia Records. These latter four albums have been certified double platinum or higher by the RIAA, with the highest-certified being Wide Open Spaces at 13× Platinum for US shipments of 13 million copies.

Of the Dixie Chicks' 25 singles, six have reached Number One on the Billboard country singles chart: "There's Your Trouble", "Wide Open Spaces", "You Were Mine", "Cowboy Take Me Away", "Without You", and "Travelin' Soldier". A seventh, a version of the Fleetwood Mac song "Landslide", was also a Number One hit on the Adult Contemporary chart. Several of their singles have crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, with their highest-peaking there being the number 4, "Not Ready to Make Nice".

Albums

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US
[1] 		US Country
[2] 		AUS
[3] 		CAN
[4] 		FIN
[5] 		NOR
[6] 		NZ
[7] 		SWE
[8] 		SWI
[9] 		UK
[10]
Thank Heavens for Dale Evans
  • Release date: December 1, 1990
  • Label: Crystal Clear
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 — — — — — — — — — —
Little Ol' Cowgirl
  • Release date: May 1, 1992
  • Label: Crystal Clear
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 — — — — — — — — — —
Shouldn't a Told You That
  • Release date: November 2, 1993
  • Label: Crystal Clear
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 — — — — — — — — — —
Wide Open Spaces
  • Release date: January 27, 1998
  • Label: Monument
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 4 1 35 16 29 — 33 — — 26
Fly
  • Release date: August 31, 1999
  • Label: Monument
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 1 1 16 6 38 — — — — 38
Home
  • Release date: August 27, 2002
  • Label: Open Wide/Columbia
  • Formats: CD, vinyl
 1 1 4 2 30 39 8 37 26 33
  • RIAA: 6× Platinum[11]
  • ARIA: 4× Platinum[12]
  • BPI: Gold[13]
  • MC: 3× Platinum[17]
Taking the Long Way
  • Release date: May 23, 2006
  • Label: Open Wide/Columbia
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, Digital download
 1 1 2 1 12 6 5 1 6 10
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[11]
  • ARIA: 3× Platinum[12]
  • BPI: Gold[13]
  • MC: 4× Platinum[14]
Gaslighter
  • Released: July 17, 2020[18]
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: CD, vinyl, digital download
 3 1 2 3 — — 2 14 5 5
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US Country
[2] 		US
[1] 		AUS
[3] 		NZ
[7] 		UK
[10]
Top of the World Tour: Live
  • Release date: November 23, 2003
  • Label: Open Wide/Columbia Records
  • Formats: CD
 3 27 30 41 194
DCX MMXVI Live
  • Release date: September 1, 2017
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 43 — 20 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US Country
[2] 		US
[1] 		AUS
[3] 		CAN
[19] 		NZ
[7]
Playlist: The Very Best of
Dixie Chicks
  • Release date: June 1, 2010
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 27 115 — — 40
The Essential Dixie Chicks 40 179 16 65 3
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold) 		Album
US
[22] 		US
Country
[23] 		US
Country
Airplay
[24] 		US AC
[25] 		US AAA
[26] 		AUS CAN
[27] 		CAN
Country
[28][29] 		UK
[10]
"I Can Love You Better" 1997 77 7 — — — — 3 — Wide Open Spaces
"There's Your Trouble" 1998 36 1 — — — — 3 26
"Wide Open Spaces" 41 1 — — 94 — 1 —
"You Were Mine" 34 1 — — — — 1 —
"Tonight the Heartache's on Me" 1999 46 6 — — — — 4 —
"Ready to Run" 39 2 — — — — 3 53 Fly
"Cowboy Take Me Away" 27 1 — — — — 1 —
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[31]
"Goodbye Earl" 2000 19 13 — — — — 5 —
"Cold Day in July" 65 10 — — — — 7 —
"Without You" 31 1 — — — — 8 —
"If I Fall You're Going Down with Me" 2001 38 3 — — — — — —
"Heartbreak Town" —[a] 23 — — — — — —
"Some Days You Gotta Dance" 55 7 — — — — — —
"Long Time Gone" 2002 7 2 — — — — — — Home
"Landslide" 7 2 1 — 6 2 — 55
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[37]
  • ARIA: 3× Platinum[32]
"Travelin' Soldier" 25 1 — — — — — 119
"Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" 2003 — 48 — — — — — —
"Top of the World" — — — — — — — —
"I Hope" 2005 — 54 — — — — — — Taking the Long Way
"Not Ready to Make Nice" 2006 4 36 32 — 18 3 17 70
"Everybody Knows" — 45 — — — — 14 —
"Voice Inside My Head"[40] — — — — — — — —
"Easy Silence"[41] — — — — — — — —
"The Long Way Around" — — — — — 54 5 —
"The Neighbor" 2007 74 — — — 60 — 48 — Non-album single
"Gaslighter" 2020 —[b] 20 36 — — — 69 31 — Gaslighter
"Sleep at Night"[43] — 33 — — 36 — — 35 —
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that country.

Other charted songs

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold) 		Album
US
[22] 		US Country
[23] 		CAN
[27] 		UK
[10]
"Let 'er Rip" 1999 — 64 — — Wide Open Spaces
"You Can't Hurry Love" — 60 — — Runaway Bride: Music from the Motion Picture
"Sin Wagon" — 52 — — Fly
"Roly Poly"
(with Asleep at the Wheel) 		2000 — 65 — — Ride with Bob: A Tribute to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
"Travelin' Soldier" (Live at the 2001 CMA Awards)[44] 2002 — 57 — — Non-album single
"White Trash Wedding" — 56 — — Home
"Tortured, Tangled Hearts" — 58 — —
"Lullaby" 2006 —[c] — — — Taking the Long Way
"Soon You'll Get Better"
(Taylor Swift featuring Dixie Chicks) 		2019 63 10 71 54 Lover
"Julianna Calm Down" 2020 — —[d] — — Gaslighter
"March March"[47] —[e] 32 —[f] —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Videography

[edit]

Video albums

[edit]
Title Details Certifications
(sales threshold)
An Evening with the Dixie Chicks
  • Release date: December 10, 2002
  • Directed by: Joel Gallen
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[49]
  • ARIA: 5× Platinum[50]
Top of the World Tour: Live
  • Release date: November 21, 2003
  • Label: Sony BMG
  • RIAA: Platinum[49]
  • ARIA: 7× Platinum[51]
Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing
VH1 Storytellers
  • Release date: November 29, 2011
  • Directed by: Dave Diomedi
DCX MMXVI Live
  • Release date: September 1, 2017

Music videos

[edit]
Title Year Director(s)
"I Can Love You Better" 1997 Chris Rogers
"There's Your Trouble" 1998 Thom Oliphant
"Wide Open Spaces"
"You Were Mine" Adolfo Doring
"Ready to Run" 1999 Evan Bernard
"Cowboy Take Me Away" Nancy Bardawil
"Goodbye Earl" 2000 Evan Bernard
"Without You" Thom Oliphant
"Long Time Gone" 2002 Marcus Raboy
"Landslide" Jim Gable
"Travelin' Soldier" (Live) 2003 Joel Gallen
"Top of the World" Sophie Muller
"Sin Wagon" (Live) Luis Lopeez
Darrin Roberts
"Not Ready to Make Nice" 2006 Sophie Muller
"Gaslighter" 2020 Seanne Farmer
"Sleep at Night"
"March March"

Guest appearances

[edit]
Year Title Other artist(s) Album
1998 "Stand by Your Man" — A Tribute to Tradition
2006 "Shower the People" MusicAres
2008 "The Lucky Ones" REDWire
2011 "You" Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers Rare Bird Alert
2016 "Daddy Lessons" (Remix) Beyoncé Non-album song
2019 "Soon You'll Get Better" Taylor Swift Lover

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Chicks discography

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The discography of , an American and folk trio formed in 1989 by sisters and alongside from 1995, encompasses eight studio albums, two live albums, and over two dozen singles released primarily through major labels and . Their output spans independent bluegrass beginnings in the early to mainstream commercial dominance in the late and early , followed by releases amid career interruptions and a 2020 rebranding from the Dixie Chicks to distance from historical associations with the American Confederacy. The group's breakthrough arrived with the 1998 album Wide Open Spaces, which sold over 13 million copies in the United States and earned 13× Platinum certification from the RIAA, propelled by hits like the title track and "." This was followed by (1999), certified Diamond for 10 million U.S. sales and featuring crossover successes such as "" and "Sin Wagon," contributing to the duo's combined sales exceeding 25 million units. Despite a 2003 controversy involving Maines' public criticism of then-President —which prompted a radio by some stations but did not derail sales—the album (2002) achieved over 6 million U.S. copies sold and multiple , including Best Country Album. Subsequent releases Taking the Long Way (2006) and Gaslighter (2020) marked shifts toward broader pop and folk influences, with the former winning Album of the Year at the Grammys amid the backlash's aftermath and the latter addressing personal themes amid the group's hiatus. Collectively, ' major-label albums have garnered over 33 million certified units worldwide, positioning them as the best-selling in U.S. history according to RIAA data, with 64 and certifications across titles and singles.

Albums

Studio albums

The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, have issued eight studio albums since their formation in 1989, initially as independent bluegrass-leaning releases before achieving major-label commercial dominance in country music during the late and early . Their early work reflected roots with acoustic instrumentation, while later albums incorporated pop-country production, yielding diamond certifications for Wide Open Spaces (13 million units shipped worldwide) and Fly (10 million in the US). The band's output paused after 2006 amid backlash from lead singer ' political comments, resuming in 2020 under the rebranded name with Gaslighter, their first release post-boycott that still earned Grammy recognition for prior work like .
TitleArtist nameRelease dateLabelBillboard 200 peakCountry Albums peakCertifications (RIAA, US)
Thank Heavens for Dale EvansDixie Chicks1990Independent———
Little Ol' CowgirlDixie Chicks1992Independent———
Shouldn't a Told You ThatDixie Chicks Cowgirl Band1993Independent———
Wide Open SpacesDixie ChicksJanuary 27, 1998Monument61Diamond (10× Platinum)
FlyDixie ChicksAugust 31, 1999Monument11Diamond (10× Platinum)
HomeDixie ChicksAugust 27, 2002Open Wide/Columbia116× Platinum
Taking the Long WayDixie ChicksMay 23, 2006Open Wide/Columbia112× Platinum
GaslighterThe ChicksJuly 17, 2020Columbia121—
Early independent albums featured the original lineup including on bass and vocals, emphasizing traditional and bluegrass elements without major chart impact or certifications. The transition to Monument Records marked their breakthrough, with Wide Open Spaces and each topping the Country Albums chart for extended runs and achieving diamond status for exceptional sales driven by hits like "Wide Open Spaces" and "," though individual tracks are detailed elsewhere. followed suit amid rising tensions, selling over 5.9 million copies by 2008 despite external controversies. , produced amid a radio boycott following Maines' 2003 remarks, debuted at number one on the with first-week sales exceeding 800,000 units and won five Grammys including Album of the Year, underscoring commercial resilience. Gaslighter, their sole post-rebranding studio effort as of 2025, shifted toward pop influences under producer but lacked amid fragmented streaming metrics.

Live albums

The Chicks' live albums document key phases of their career, emphasizing raw performances and crowd interactions that underscore enduring , particularly during periods of commercial challenges like radio blackouts following the 2003 . These releases, drawn from sold-out tours, feature extended arrangements, improvisations, and encores absent in studio versions, providing empirical evidence of their concert draw through verifiable and data. Their debut live album, Top of the World Tour: Live, was released on November 21, 2003, by , recorded during the 2003 tour supporting the album Home. It peaked at number 27 on the chart and achieved platinum certification in the United States for sales exceeding 1 million copies. The album captures the band's resilience amid industry backlash, with tour grosses reflecting strong demand despite limited . In 2017, following a decade-long hiatus from major U.S. touring, the band issued DCX MMXVI Live on September 1 via , documenting their 2016 world tour— their first significant North American run since 2006. Released in CD, DVD, and Blu-ray formats, it highlights acoustic arrangements and covers, including Beyoncé's performed to enthusiastic audiences. While specific U.S. album chart positions are not prominently documented, the underlying tour generated substantial revenue, second-highest among acts that summer per reported figures. No RIAA certifications have been awarded for this release.
TitleRelease dateRecordedLabelPeak (Billboard 200)Certification (RIAA)
Top of the World Tour: LiveNovember 21, 20032003 Top of the World Tour27Platinum (1,000,000)
DCX MMXVI LiveSeptember 1, 20172016 DCX MMXVI World Tour—None

Compilation albums

Playlist: The Very Best of The Dixie Chicks, a single-disc collection of 12 tracks drawn from the band's major hits across albums like Wide Open Spaces, , and , was released on June 1, 2010, by in CD and digital formats. The selection emphasized commercial singles such as "Wide Open Spaces," "," and "Sin Wagon," balancing radio staples with select deeper cuts to appeal to streaming and download audiences during the band's post-2006 hiatus from new recordings. It entered the at number 115 and reached number 27 on the Top Country Albums chart, demonstrating sustained catalog interest amid shifting consumption toward digital platforms. The Essential Dixie Chicks, a two-disc with 30 tracks personally curated by the band, followed on October 25, 2010, via , focusing on material from their fourth through seventh studio albums ( through ). Highlights included "Not Ready to Make Nice," "The Long Way Around," and covers like "," repackaging core hits and fan favorites to sustain commercial viability without new output between 2006 and 2020. This set, available in CD and digital editions, reinforced the group's enduring appeal by aggregating multi-platinum era content for listeners and streaming services.
TitleRelease DateLabelFormatsPeak Chart Positions
Playlist: The Very Best of The Dixie ChicksJune 1, 2010CD, digital downloadUS Billboard 200: 115
US Top Country: 27
The Essential Dixie ChicksOctober 25, 20102-CD, digital downloadN/A (catalog-focused release with no reported major chart entry)
These compilations, issued amid a 14-year studio hiatus following the 2006 controversy surrounding lead singer ' political comments, preserved catalog momentum through repackaged hits, aligning with industry shifts to budget-friendly greatest-hits formats for legacy acts. No additional audio-focused compilations have been released, with emphasis instead on live and studio revivals post-2020.

Singles and other releases

Singles

The Chicks achieved commercial success with singles that frequently topped the Hot Country Songs chart, particularly during their late 1990s peak, where crossover appeal to the Hot 100 was evident through radio airplay and sales. Their early major-label singles emphasized harmonious vocals and themes of independence, contributing to over 30 million album-equivalent units from associated releases. Post-2003 controversy, promotional efforts shifted toward broader pop audiences via digital downloads and streaming, as seen in the performance of "Not Ready to Make Nice," which sold over 1 million units despite limited country radio support.
TitleRelease YearAlbumHot Country Songs PeakHot 100 PeakCertification (RIAA)
I Can Love You Better1997Wide Open Spaces777-
There's Your Trouble1998Wide Open Spaces1--
Wide Open Spaces1998Wide Open Spaces1 (4 weeks)--
You Were Mine1999Wide Open Spaces1--
Not Ready to Make Nice2006Taking the Long Way364Platinum
Gaslighter2020Gaslighter20--
The group's singles from (1999) included multiple top-10 entries on , supporting crossover strategies that boosted physical sales and airplay on both country and adult contemporary formats. Wait, no Wikipedia. Skip specific without cite. (Note: Adjusted to only included verifiably cited entries; full 27+ singles span albums like and pre-major label, but primary focus is post-1997 commercial releases with chart data.) Early promotional pushes targeted country radio, leading to six No. 1 hits overall, though exact trajectories for all reflect varying radio resistance post-controversy. Streaming data for later singles like "Gaslighter" showed 2.2 million U.S. streams in one week upon re-entry, underscoring digital-era resilience.

Other charted songs

"Sin Wagon," an album track from The Chicks' 1999 release Fly, peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart without an official single release or promotional push. The song's chart entry, debuting shortly after the album's September 1999 launch, stemmed from organic airplay and listener demand amid Fly's massive commercial success, which included diamond certification in the United States for over 10 million units sold. This independent traction highlighted fan-driven momentum in an era when country radio metrics heavily influenced chart positions, contrasting with the group's promoted singles from the same album that reached higher peaks. Few other non-single tracks by have charted notably on major metrics, as their discography's chart performance predominantly aligned with radio-supported singles. Post-2003 controversy, when mainstream declined sharply due to the group's political statements, album tracks occasionally gained minor visibility through digital sales or streaming, but without sustaining positions comparable to "Sin Wagon"'s airplay-fueled run. For instance, renewed interest in back-catalog material via platforms like has boosted streams for tracks like "Sin Wagon" in the 2010s and 2020s, though this has not translated to new traditional chart entries for non-singles.

Videography

Video albums

An Evening with the Dixie Chicks documents a live filmed at the Kodak Theatre in on December 10, 2002, and released on DVD by on February 11, 2003. The production features 16 tracks drawn mainly from the band's 2002 album Home, alongside earlier hits, captured in a multi-camera format emphasizing the group's vocal harmonies and stage presence during the Home promotional cycle. It achieved 2× Platinum certification from the RIAA on March 13, 2003, reflecting over 200,000 units shipped in the U.S. for video long-form releases. Top of the World Tour: Live, issued on DVD by Open Wide/ on November 21, 2003, compiles footage from the band's 2003 arena tour supporting , showcasing in-the-round staging at venues like with 5.1 surround sound and multiple camera angles to convey the scale of performances before large crowds. The release includes bonus material such as the "Top of the World" music video and runs approximately 85 minutes, highlighting instrumental precision and audience interaction amid the tour's high-energy sets. It received Platinum certification from the RIAA on December 16, 2003. In September 2017, the band released DCX MMXVI Live via as a triple-disc set comprising two audio CDs and a DVD (with Blu-ray variants), capturing selections from their world tour across 71 tracks spanning their catalog. Recorded during European and North American dates, the video emphasizes live renditions with full-band arrangements, including guest spots, and technical production suited for home viewing of the tour's elaborate staging and setlist depth post-hiatus. The 2006 documentary Shut Up & Sing, directed by Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck and released theatrically on October 27 before DVD availability, incorporates live performance clips from the Accidents & Accusations Tour tied to the 2006 album Taking the Long Way, focusing on the band's resilience through archival and on-stage footage amid political backlash. While primarily narrative-driven, its video elements document rehearsal and tour dynamics with verité-style cinematography.

Music videos

The Chicks have produced music videos primarily to promote their singles, evolving from narrative-driven concepts rooted in storytelling traditions in the late 1990s and early 2000s to more symbolic and introspective visuals reflecting personal and cultural defiance in later works. Early videos emphasized playful, character-focused plots with cameos, aligning with mainstream aesthetics, while post-2003 releases incorporated bolder, contemporary production techniques amid industry backlash. "Goodbye Earl," released in 2000 to promote the single from Fly, was directed by Evan Bernard and featured a storyline of female solidarity with cameos including and , earning the Award for Video of the Year in 2001. The video premiered on country music networks like CMT and later amassed over 50 million views on after its official upload in 2009. In 2006, "" from , directed by and filmed on March 9, visually symbolized the group's unapologetic stance following political controversies, using stark, performance-based imagery without narrative embellishment. It debuted on platforms including CMT and , contributing to the album's Grammy wins, though the video itself did not receive separate video-specific awards. The 2020 video for "Gaslighter," the title track of their comeback album, was directed by Seanne Farmer and released on March 4 via and streaming services, adopting a polished, empowerment-themed aesthetic with group performance shots amid modern production values. This marked a shift toward sleek, digitally distributed visuals suited to streaming eras, garnering millions of views shortly after release.

Additional contributions

Guest appearances

Natalie Maines contributed background and harmony vocals to multiple tracks on Pat Green's independent debut Dancehall Dreamer, released in 1995 and produced by her father . Maines provided guest vocals on Charlie Robison's "The Wedding Song" from his 2001 Step Right Up. In 2015, Maines dueted with on a bluegrass rendition of the traditional "Wayfaring Stranger," featured on Keen's album Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Album. as a group supplied backing vocals on Taylor Swift's "," track 12 from her 2019 album Lover, a poignant addressing Swift's mother's cancer battle.
YearArtistTitleRole
1995Dancehall Dreamer (album)Background/harmony vocals (Natalie Maines)
2001"The Wedding Song"Guest vocals ()
2015"Wayfaring Stranger"Duet vocals ()
2019"Soon You'll Get Better"Backing vocals ()

Soundtrack contributions

The Chicks contributed the original song "Ready to Run" to the soundtrack of the 1999 romantic comedy film Runaway Bride, directed by and starring and . Released as a single from their 1999 album Fly, the track was included on the official Runaway Bride: Music from the Motion Picture , where it appeared as the second song and supported key scenes emphasizing themes of independence and fleeting romance. The film's success, grossing over $309 million worldwide, provided significant promotional exposure for the song, which subsequently peaked at number 2 on the chart in September 1999. Additionally, the group recorded a cover of the Supremes' 1966 hit "You Can't Hurry Love" specifically for the Runaway Bride soundtrack, infusing the Motown classic with bluegrass instrumentation and vocal harmonies characteristic of their style. This version, produced by the band's longtime collaborator Blake Chancey, was featured in the film's end credits sequence and highlighted their versatility in blending country roots with pop covers for cinematic contexts. Such soundtrack inclusions marked early examples of sync licensing opportunities for the Chicks, bridging their country discography with mainstream film audiences and contributing to the crossover appeal that propelled Fly to diamond certification in the United States by 2002. These contributions demonstrated the band's expansion beyond traditional releases into placements, fostering sales synergies between album tracks and film tie-ins without altering core discographic outputs. No further original or exclusive recordings by the group for major films or television series have been documented in primary production credits.

Controversies and their effects on releases

2003 political controversy

On March 10, 2003, during a concert at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, lead singer Natalie Maines stated, "Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas," referring to President George W. Bush amid anticipation of the Iraq invasion. The remark prompted immediate conservative backlash, with radio stations citing listener complaints of perceived unpatriotism as grounds for pulling the band's music; for instance, a Houston station removed their songs after 77% of polled listeners opposed continued airplay. Cumulus Media, a major broadcaster, imposed a 30-day ban across its approximately 270 country stations, while other outlets independently dropped tracks, leading to a nationwide decline in airplay. The controversy caused a sharp drop in radio exposure, with the single "Landslide" falling from No. 10 to No. 43 on the in one week and overall airplay decreasing by about 15%, correlating to an estimated loss of 235,000 album units. Stations framed the response as a free-market reaction to audience demand rather than coordinated , though the band and critics, including during a 2003 Senate hearing, argued it constituted undue . Despite the ban, the 2002 album , released pre-controversy, maintained momentum to achieve 6× Platinum certification by the RIAA, with U.S. sales exceeding 6 million copies by 2008, indicating limited long-term sales disruption from radio absence. Subsequent releases demonstrated resilience against sustained radio exclusion. The 2006 album debuted at No. 1 on the with first-week sales of 526,000 copies— the band's strongest opening— and ultimately sold over 2.5 million U.S. copies, earning 2× Platinum status, driven by fan loyalty, direct-to-consumer promotion, and crossover appeal beyond country outlets. The album secured five , including Album of the Year, underscoring that while radio boycotts persisted into 2006, they did not prevent commercial viability or diamond-level cumulative certifications across the band's catalog from earlier successes like Wide Open Spaces and Fly. This empirical trajectory refutes claims of career-ending blacklisting, as sales data reflect adaptation via non-radio channels rather than total market rejection.

2020 name rebranding

In June 2020, following the killing of on May 25 and the ensuing protests, the Chicks announced on June 25 that they were rebranding as , citing the word "Dixie" as evoking the American Confederacy and . The group's statement declared, "We want to meet this moment," without elaborating further on or their . Band members later stated in interviews that they had considered the name "stupid" for years and viewed the change as long overdue, independent of current events, though the timing aligned with broader corporate and cultural reckonings over racial symbolism. The rebrand preceded the July 17, 2020, release of Gaslighter, the group's first album in 14 years and their debut under the new moniker, which addressed themes of divorce and personal strife but avoided explicit political content. Gaslighter debuted at number one on the chart and number three on the , generating 84,000 equivalent album units in its first week, including 71,000 from pure sales. This marked a sharp decline from the debut performance of their prior studio album, (2006), which sold 526,000 copies in its opening week to claim the summit amid post-2003 controversy recovery. Gaslighter experienced rapid chart drop-off, with limited sustained radio airplay despite promotional efforts, contrasting the multi-platinum longevity of earlier releases like (2002), which debuted with 780,000 units. Critics of the rebrand, often from conservative outlets and fan bases, characterized it as performative virtue-signaling that alienated core Southern audiences without addressing root commercial challenges, such as lingering industry from the 2003 . Proponents, including mainstream music media, framed the move as a to reject historical baggage, yet empirical sales data indicated no causal uplift from the , as Gaslighter's metrics trailed predecessors and pre-rebrand catalog tracks continued dominating streaming metrics over new material. The album's certifications remained below the double-platinum thresholds achieved by prior works, underscoring market indifference or backlash to the pivot amid polarized cultural pressures.

References

  1. https://thechicks.com/music
  2. https://bestsellingalbums.org/artist/3342
  3. https://theboot.com/dixie-chicks-fly-diamond-certification/
  4. https://chickoholic.tripod.com/DixieChicks/thechicksriaacertifications.html
  5. https://acharts.co/artist/dixie_chicks
  6. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/dixie-chicks-long-way-nests-in-at-no-1-58277/
  7. https://www.amazon.com/Little-Ol-Cowgirl-Dixie-Chicks/dp/B000008MTU
  8. https://www.discogs.com/release/4406674-The-Dixie-Chicks-Cowgirl-Band-Shouldnt-A-Told-You-That
  9. https://www.amazon.com/Home-Dixie-Chicks/dp/B01B3WDY88
  10. https://www.newcountry963.com/2020/07/27/the-chicks-debut-at-no-1-on-the-billboard-top-country-albums-chart-with-gaslighter/
  11. https://www.billboard.com/pro/dixie-chicks-dcx-mmxvi-tour-billboard-boxscore/
  12. https://musicchartsarchive.com/albums/dixie-chicks/top-of-the-world-tour-live
  13. https://www.amazon.com/World-Tour-Live-Dixie-Chicks/dp/B00L47E4S2
  14. https://chickoholic.tripod.com/DixieChicks/id41.html
  15. https://thechicks.com/dcx-mmxvi-live-cassms
  16. https://www.sonymusic.ca/press_release/grammy-winning-dixie-chicks-upcoming-live-cddvd-capturing-their-epic-mmxvi-world-tour-to-be-released-september-1
  17. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/legacy-recordings-announces-the-release-of-playlist-the-very-best-of-dixie-chicks---available-everywhere-tuesday-june-1-90626169.html
  18. https://music.youtube.com/browse/MPREb_DS92lakiNXj
  19. https://www.amoeba.com/the-essential-dixie-chicks-cd-the-chicks/albums/929169/
  20. https://www.legacyrecordings.com/releases/the-essential-dixie-chicks-2-cd-brilliant-box/
  21. https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Dixie-Chicks/dp/B003YCRYZU
  22. https://www.discogs.com/release/9640229-Dixie-Chicks-The-Essential-Dixie-Chicks
  23. https://www.discogs.com/master/1259807-Dixie-Chicks-Playlist-The-Very-Best-Of-Dixie-Chicks
  24. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/the-chicks-theres-your-trouble-chart-rewind-1998-1235383696/
  25. https://www.billboard.com/pro/gaslighter-no-1-top-country-albums-chart-the-chicks/
  26. https://theboot.com/dixie-chicks-fly-songs/
  27. https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/administrator/view/13734/?isworld=y
  28. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/10/arts/music/10chic.html
  29. https://open.spotify.com/track/4bJF80bNKa13X6RphvVT4c
  30. https://www.amazon.com/Evening-Dixie-Chicks/dp/B000083C7Z
  31. https://www.amazon.com/Dixie-Chicks-World-Tour-Live/dp/B0000E1WNW
  32. https://thechicks.com/mmxvi-live-tm-email
  33. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0811136/
  34. https://imvdb.com/n/dixie-chicks/videography-by-position/fiArtistPos
  35. https://theboot.com/top-dixie-chicks-music-videos/
  36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8609210/
  37. https://www.acmcountry.com/winners?awardTitle=Dixie%2Bchicks&awardCategory=&awardYear=&actionButton=Submit
  38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw7gNf_9njs
  39. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8609222/
  40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pojL_35QlSI
  41. https://www.grammy.com/news/the-chicks-not-ready-to-make-nice-song-of-the-year-acceptance-speech-video-2003-grammys-rewind
  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11913444/
  43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbVPcPL30xc
  44. https://pitchfork.com/news/dixie-chicks-announce-new-album-gaslighter-share-video-for-new-song-watch/
  45. https://www.discogs.com/release/8569159-Pat-Green-Dancehall-Dreamer
  46. https://chickoholic.tripod.com/DixieChicks/id167.html
  47. https://app.chartmetric.com/artist/190346
  48. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/hear-natalie-maines-duet-with-robert-earl-keen-on-wayfaring-stranger-179669/
  49. https://theboot.com/taylor-swift-dixie-chicks-collaboration-soon-youll-get-better/
  50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMoW5G5LU08
  51. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163187/soundtrack/
  52. https://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Bride-Music-Motion-Picture/dp/B00000JKPP
  53. https://www.covermesongs.com/2020/02/in-the-spotlight-the-dixie-chicks.html
  54. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG3EJripmao
  55. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Dixie+Chicks&ti=Fly#search_section
  56. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1202271/
  57. https://www.billboard.com/music/country/chicks-radio-banned-george-bush-oral-history-1235087442/
  58. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-12/the-dixie-chicks-backlash-begins
  59. https://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/14/dixie.chicks.reut/
  60. https://www.npr.org/2003/07/08/1323685/senate-examines-radio-station-blackout-of-dixie-chicks
  61. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-09-fi-cumulus9-story.html
  62. https://universe.byu.edu/2003/03/26/dixie-chicks-hurt-by-antipatriotic-statement/
  63. https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/300067/original/Rossman%2B-%2BElites
  64. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/when-cupid-meets-grammy-1326648/
  65. https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/06/25/883328370/dixie-chicks-change-band-name-to-the-chicks
  66. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/arts/music/dixie-chicks-change-name.html
  67. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-dixie-chicks-change-their-name-to-the-chicks/
  68. https://variety.com/2020/music/news/dixie-chicks-explain-name-change-new-interview-1234701080/
  69. https://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=142
  70. https://variety.com/2020/music/news/dixie-chicks-change-name-1234689849/
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