The Dixie Chicks are Dropping "Dixie" From Their Name in Response to Black Lives Matter
The Dixie Chicks have been amidst a comeback as they prepare to release their new album, Gaslighter, on July 17.
Along with releasing a new protest-related song, "March March," the trio announced on June 25 that they will eliminate "Dixie" from their name in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Dixie Chicks are now simply "The Chicks." In an update to the band's website on June 25, the trio's name appears (without "Dixie") above a very brief statement: "We want to meet this moment." The signatures of all three members, Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer, and Martie Maguire, are displayed under the statement.
The Dixie Chicks' original name dates back to the group's inception in 1989—"Dixie" was a nod to a country-rock album called Dixie Chicken by Little Feat—but the group joins fellow country stars Lady Antebellum in their efforts to reassess their name in light of recent events. (Lady A recently dropped "Antebellum" from their name, due to its connection to the Civil War era and slavery.) The Chicks' website, Wikipedia page, and social media handles have been updated to reflect their new name.
The Chicks' new song, "March March," was released in conjunction with the name change announcement, and combines traditional country sounds (namely, the group's signature fiddle and banjo) with modern production and an urgent message.
The lyrics highlight the ongoing issues our country is facing on both national and global scales, and the chorus praises the power of staying true to one's own beliefs: "March, march, to my own drum / Hey, hey I'm an army of one."
The accompanying music video begins with a powerful anonymous quote ("If your voice held no power, they wouldn't try to silence you") and features compelling footage from a range of protests and cultural movements throughout history, as well as more current clips from Black Lives Matter protests.
“If your voice held no power, they wouldn’t try to silence you.” - unknown#MARCHMARCH pic.twitter.com/n4hJTaYSri
— The Chicks (@thechicks) June 25, 2020
Of course, this is not the first time the trio has voiced their political views. Still, the group remains one of the most successful country acts of all time, and has sold more than 33 million albums and won 13 Grammy Awards.
After a long break away from the spotlight, the group returned briefly in 2019 as guest stars on Taylor Swift's album Lover, and released a new song of their own earlier in this year. Their forthcoming album, Gaslighter, was postponed indefinitely shortly after it was announced due to the coronavirus pandemic, but is now slated for release on July 17.
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