DIXIE CHICKS Rock and Rule!

The Dixie Chicks are the biggest-selling female group in history; they now have 12 Grammy Awards . Last night the Dixie Chicks swept the top three Grammy awards and won in every category they were eligible. They received five grammy's last night for:

--Album of the Year: "Taking the Long Way," Dixie Chicks.
--Record of the Year: "Not Ready to Make Nice," Dixie Chicks.
--Song of the Year: "Not Ready to Make Nice," Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Dan Wilson (Dixie Chicks).
--Country Album: "Taking the Long Way," Dixie Chicks.
--Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: "Not Ready to Make Nice," Dixie Chicks.

At a March 2003 London concert, Natalie Maines told the audience, " Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

“Against the ongoing blanding out of America, a massive country star actually had the guts, for a moment, to say exactly what she thinks. … Maines' comment stands as the boldest thing anyone in the entertainment industry has said since the war flap began….. For a moment she was the bravest American entertainer.” --Salon, March 2003, Stephanie Zacharek

A right wing backlash was quickly orchestrated with Clear Channel radio stations leading the way. A campaign of hatred was directed at three of the most talented women in the history of music. Clear Channel led the way and banned the Dixie Chicks from all airplay and sponsored "CD" crushing events and "pro-war" rallies. Chick Emily Robison's home was vandalized and death threats were made against them.

“The Dixie Chicks are one of the hottest acts going, but one of their lasting contributions to the music industry may well be contained in a record of a different sort: the Congressional Record. At Senate hearings July 8, Cumulus Media--which owns some 270 radio stations--was the latest to be caught up in the backlash over the power that large radio conglomerates hold to curb free speech and to punish those with whom it disagrees politically. In a riveting exchange, Senate Commerce Committee chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., compelled Cumulus chairman/chief executive Lewis W. Dickey to acknowledge that the chain by corporate fiat had ordered the Dixie Chicks off the air at all 50 of its country stations. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said the decision by Cumulus and Cox Radio to ban the Dixie Chicks was similar to the blacklisting of Hollywood artists during the McCarthy era in the 1950s and the burning of books in 1930s-era Germany. By her outspokenness, Maines focused public scrutiny on a dirty little business. For that she should be commended.” --Billboard, July 2003

“The Dixie Chicks have been able to exercise free speech happily all the way to the bank. They've posed nude for the cover of ‘Entertainment Weekly’ with ‘Saddam's Angels’ emblazoned on their flesh. Their album ‘Home’ rebounded from its brief dip, returning to No. 1 on the country chart for weeks. Their tour has sold out from its first stop, that left-wing stronghold Greenville, S.C. The Dixie Chicks may be bigger than ever.”—New York Times, July 2003, Frank Rich

The 2006 documentary--Shut Up and Sing--covers the controversy that erupted over Natalie Maines.

Country Music stations continue to "boycott" the Chicks. Show your support of free speech. Contact these Virginia radio stations and requesting that they play the Dixie Chicks.

WWDE Norfolk/Va Beach 757-420-1013

WGH Norfolk/Va Beach 757-490-9797

WTVR Richmond billcahill@clearchannel.com 804-474-0000

WSLQ Roanoke 800-410-9936 WSLC Roanoke 540-767-7827