Latest Dixie Chicks Stories
By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country-pop trio the Dixie Chicks, still feeling a backlash for criticizing President George W. Bush, have been forced to mostly abandon the American heartland and Deep South on their latest tour. Facing lackluster ticket sales in many U.S. cities where radio stations had banned their music to protest the band's anti-Bush remarks, the Chicks' promoters have revised their tour with new stops in Australia and Canada. Only four Southern U.S. cities...
By Steve GormanLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country-pop trio the Dixie Chicks, still feeling a backlash for criticizing President George W. Bush, have been forced to mostly abandon the American heartland and Deep South on their latest tour.Facing lackluster ticket sales in many U.S. cities where radio stations had banned their music to protest the band's anti-Bush remarks, the Chicks' promoters have revised their tour with new stops in Australia and Canada.Only four Southern U.S. cities remain on...
By Etan Vlessing TORONTO (Hollywood Reporter) - A documentary about the firestorm that greeted the Dixie Chicks' anti-Bush comments will make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, organizers said Thursday. "Dixie Chicks -- Shut Up and Sing," from Oscar-winning director Barbara Kopple ("Harlan County," "American Dream") and Cecilia Peck, will receive a high-profile gala screening. It documents the fury faced by the country music trio after singer...
By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country music trio the Dixie Chicks, still taking heat for criticizing President Bush, are weathering sluggish ticket sales in several cities for their upcoming U.S. tour, industry watchers reported on Thursday. While early ticket purchases for their first major tour in three years are generally robust in Northeastern cities, initial sales have fallen short of expectations in numerous markets, especially in the Midwest and South, forcing some...
By Ray Waddell NASHVILLE (Billboard) - Initial ticket sales for the Dixie Chicks' upcoming tour are far below expectations and several dates will likely be canceled or postoned. Ticket counts for the 20-plus arena shows that went on sale last weekend were averaging 5,000-6,000 per show in major markets and less in secondaries, according to sources contacted by Billboard. Venue capacities on the tour generally top 15,000. In contrast, the band's new album, "Taking the Long Way," sold...
By Katie Hasty NEW YORK (Billboard) - In a slow week for new album releases, the Dixie Chicks remained queens of the U.S. pop charts Wednesday, while the soundtrack to Disney's "High School Musical" held tight at No. 2, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' former chart-topper rebounded two places to No. 3. The Dixie Chicks' "Taking the Long Way," which exceeded industry estimates by selling 525,000 copies during its first week, added 271,000 copies in the week ended June 4, according to...
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country trio the Dixie Chicks, the darlings of Nashville until their singer criticized President Bush three years ago, opened at No. 1 on the U.S. charts on Wednesday with their first studio album since then, but sales were sharply lower. "Taking The Long Way," their third chart-topper, sold 525,000 copies in the week ended May 28, according to tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan. The figure ranks as one of the biggest openings of the year, and exceeds industry...
By Phyllis Stark NASHVILLE (Billboard) - Disappointing airplay for the first two singles from the new album by the Dixie Chicks exposes a deep -- and seemingly growing -- rift between the trio and the country radio market that helped turn the group into superstars. "Taking the Long Way," due out May 23, is the band's first album since singer Natalie Maines sparked a major controversy in 2003 by declaring that she was ashamed to hail from the same state as fellow Texan President George...
ARTIST: DIXIE CHICKS SINGLE: NOT READY TO MAKE NICE (Wide Open/Columbia) Dixie Chicks lead Natalie Maines has never been the type to tuck her tail, but after an avalanche of combative censure of the trio at country-radio outlets after her 2003 criticism of President Bush, one might expect the Chicks' return to avoid ruffling feathers. Nothing doing. "Not Ready to Make Nice" expresses Maines' hurt and disbelief over the uproar: "They say time heals everything, but I'm still waiting/I'm...
By Chris Morris LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - You can practically tell what James Hand's music sounds like from the names of the places he plays: Ginny's Little Longhorn ... Pearl's Dancehall & Saloon ... Riley's Tavern ... the Broken Spoke. Hand's robust, authentic honky-tonk music was bred in Texas beer joints. His original songs -- heard on "The Truth Will Set You Free," his Rounder Records debut, due February 28 -- reflect a deep familiarity with and love of the classic...
