Dixie Chicks Members:
The Dixie Chicks Get Their Start
It all began in good ol' Dallas, Texas where Martie Erwin and her little sis Emily were encouraged by their ma to practice their stringed instruments. She even timed the practice sessions with an egg timer. It all paid off when the sisters formed a bluegrass band called the Blue Night Express in 1984. The band performed around Texas for about five years until calling it quits when Martie was 19 and Emily 16. Months later the dynamite duo teamed up with some gal pals and began performing on the sidewalks in Dallas' business district. The Chicks were hatched in 1989, when they began calling themselves the Dixie Chicks - borrowing the name from a song by the blues band Little Feat. Besides street corners, they performed in small clubs and once in the produce department of a grocery store. Eventually their efforts paid off and they were opening for cowboys like Garth Brooks and playing the Grand Ole Opry - which is a huge deal in the world of country.
The Dixie Chicks Get Their Big Break
In 1995, Natalie Maines took over as the lead singer in the group after their lead singer decided to leave. She quickly dug her spurs into the role and was a perfect fit for the group. This couldn't have been more obvious than on the gals' first major label release in 1998, Wide Open Spaces. It became the biggest selling album ever for a country duo or group. Yee ha! They lassoed two Grammys with Wide Open Spaces one for Best Country Album and the other for Best Country Vocal Performance By A Duo/Group.
Dixie Chicks - Did U Know?
The Dixie Chicks Say...
"I think our fans, and even the people who don't know us, know that we come from a real compassionate place."Related Stories:
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