CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device
Music fans noticed something different when they visited the Dixie Chicks’ website on Thursday.
There were greeted by an announcement that the Grammy-winning country trio has changed its name — dropping the “Dixie” from the equation and going by “The Chicks” instead.
The new moniker is spelled out, in all caps, across the top of the website. Underneath the name is a band statement — “We want to meet this moment” — followed by signatures by all three members, Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer.
The group even changed its website to thechicks.com, although the old site, dixiechicks.com, redirects to the new one. And the band has also changed its social media accounts, including Twitter, where the group can now be found at @thechicks.
This is the second big name change in country music this month, following Lady Antebellum’s decision to drop Antebellum and simply go by Lady A. Similar to the Lady A move, by dropping the “Dixie” from the equation, the Chicks are eschewing a term that is often associated with the slavery that existed in the South.
Unlike with Lady A, who received criticism for moving to a name that a Black singer was already using, the Chicks did their homework first and cleared the name change first with a New Zealand act with the same moniker.
“A sincere and heartfelt thank you goes out to ‘The Chicks’ of NZ for their gracious gesture in allowing us to share their name. We are honored to co-exist together in the world with these exceptionally talented sisters,” the band said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
Next month, the Chicks are set to release their first album since the 2006 chart-topper “Taking the Long Way,” which went on to sell more than 2 million copies and win five Grammys, including for album of the year.
The album is titled “Gaslighter.” The video for the album’s first single, “March March,” features footage from the Black Lives Matter rallies that followed the death of George Floyd.
Here’s the “March March” video:
. @sfoutsidelands announces great lineup … for 2021. Details here. @mercnews @EastBayTimes https://t.co/Rrc3gCO6Vx
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) June 24, 2020
Bay Area music spotlight: Check out these releases by 3 local acts. @cahoneydrops @linzywestman @JCSmithBand https://t.co/FLjQbOW2Ln
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) June 22, 2020
What do Bay Area musicians listen to when they want to feel better? https://t.co/CHDlvqCb5N
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) June 22, 2020
