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Natalie Maines' Howard Stern Interview Reveals Bleak View of Dixie Chicks' Future

Natalie Maines Howard Stern interviewJason Merritt, Getty Images

The Dixie Chicks are reuniting for two music festivals this summer in Canada, but fans probably shouldn't get their hopes up for new music from the trio anytime soon.

"I just don't feel like it's the Dixie Chicks' time," lead singer Natalie Maines told Howard Stern Friday (Jan. 4) on the shock jock's SiriusXM radio show. "I feel like things were tainted permanently. So, I struggle with going out on five Grammys or going out -- petering out."

Natalie's "tainted" comment was, of course, in reference to the media firestorm that happened after her 2003 statement that the Chicks were "ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." The George W. Bush slam, made during a Chicks' concert in London, changed the course of the superstar group's career. Fan backlash included everything from radio station bans to death threats.

"I moved from my house in Austin out to the country. It wasn't a good feeling," Natalie recalls of the hardships of keeping her family safe in the wake of the controversy. "My aunt is a newscaster in Lubbox, Texas, and she got a letter that said, 'Natalie Maines will be shot dead at their show in Dallas, Texas,' with the date of our concert. It was freaky to see that in writing."

The Dixie Chicks forged on with their sold-out Top of the World Tour that year, delighted to see that fans still packed every house, whether it be to show their support or just hear great music. But their following tour wasn't near as successful.

"I naively thought those same people would come again. It was not good," Natalie laments. "Our biggest fanbase was a country audience, and they weren't there. I don't trust it anymore. I don't want to put my fate in country music fans, I'm too stubborn."

Thus the 38-year-old Texas native will go back to her rock roots for her new solo album, Mother, due May 7. The project, produced by Ben Harper, is a long time coming, as Natalie never really wanted to be a country star until she was a senior in college and got the call from the Chicks about becoming their new lead singer. "Growing up, when people asked, 'What kind of music do you listen to?,' I'd say, 'Anything but country'," she admits.

The Dixie Chicks will play the Cavendish Beach Music Festival July 7 on Canada's Prince Edward Island. That will be followed by a July 13 headlining set at the Craven Country Jamboree, just north of Montana's Canadian border. Natalie is along for the two-stop ride, but isn't entirely happy about it. "I didn't want to do (the Canadian shows), because I want to focus all of my energy [on] this album. I'm not good at multi-tasking. I just wanted one touring cycle to just focus on this, but I was outvoted."

Still, Natalie corrected her buddy Howard for introducing her as "Natalie Maines ... formerly of the Dixie Chicks." "I'm still in the Dixie Chicks; we haven't broken up ... I love the Dixie Chicks; it's the most fun I've ever had in my life. It was like winning the lottery."


Watch the Dixie Chicks' 'Not Ready to Make Nice' Video





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angel8675

So, it was Her Aunt that got the letter. (I never knew that). And, the Aunt is a newcaster.(New Info for me).
And, to say that she never wanted to be a country STAR!
How did she know she was gonna be a STAR to begin with?
I feel bad for Em and Martie, regarding the statements Natalie made.
Just Publicity

Many Blessings

January 27 2013 at 11:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dplucky61

The fact of the matter, after all is said and done, she was right in what she said about Bush. He was a fraud, she called him on it, and she got bashed for it. Sometimes the truth is hard to except, but it's truth after all!!!

January 10 2013 at 11:59 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
marknlutz

So all you left wing loons , go to their concerts! You didn't go after she put her foot in her fat mouth. Free speech is legal but you pay the price for sedition. Speaking badly about your country on an overseas stage, There is little worse than that. **** her.

January 10 2013 at 2:26 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Michael

There's a serious problem in this country.... Whenever someone points out an obvious truth, they are the ones who suffer. You go Natalie..... you were right all them time, George W. Bushit, was a cruel joke.

January 10 2013 at 12:18 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
You've got IT!

Docstu doesn't travel much if at all. When you travel, you get a bigger view of life and can see the bigger picture that you cannot see at home. This is when epiphanies happen. One day if you stop spending money on guns and beer you might have enough money to travel abroad and have yourself your own brand of epiphany. Peace.

January 09 2013 at 11:03 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
You've got IT!

I guess they forgot how nutty Texans can be and how violent. They also assumed that the average Texan was as smart as they are. Not. They also forgot that even though W. was later found out to be a fraud, the Texans decided they didn't want to listen and turned off their TVs. The Dixie Chicks are ahead of their time. And sadly, sometime such pioneers suffer from the status quo's stupidity.

January 09 2013 at 11:00 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
ghelm92160

From Texas, but educated in Boston and lives in L.A., THAT SAYS IT ALL! I do miss their music!

January 09 2013 at 9:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
barryberry1

I was ashamed that that lying, idiot was president, no matter where he came from. Natalie was right to speak out and everyone knew it. Too bad most so called "country fans" couldn't handle the truth. I love the 'Chicks and always thought they were way too good to be stuck in the "Country" music slot which will kill off a career faster than playing polkas. Singly, as a duo, or together these women are great.

January 08 2013 at 3:24 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
point6000

You have to remember that country music as well as the people who play and sing it ,except for a very few, is not the same anymore. Most all the true CW singers are gone. The' sheep' of today are told by hollywood how it is going to be done.
Hollywood will also infest the mind of the 'sheep' to their way of thinking and what you must put up with no questions asked.
So..If you want to be a CW star today then corn-roll your hair put on some lipstix, earrings, (this goes for both guys and girls) and smile you are in Hollywood.

January 08 2013 at 1:31 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
kesline

She made a video about killing EARL, she was so happy about it she danced a jig, and then she went after bigger fish and she got fried.

January 08 2013 at 1:00 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply

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