Why the Dixie Chicks Should Be Deemed the Most Influential People of 2006

Everyone has something to say about the Dixie Chicks. Love them or hate them, it's a heated topic. And for this reason, I'd like to nominate them for the Most Influential People of 2006. The Chicks are survivors. I recently attended my fourth Dixie Chicks concert and wasn't sure what I'd find. Well, I found a half empty arena with no cowboy hats in sight. A much different crowd than last time, to say the least. And that was okay. The girls proved that they can play and write music better than any of the bubble gum pop acts out there today. The crowd was full of the die hard fans, and the new breed of fans who have hopped on their political bandwagon. They only hinted at the big controversy. At one point, lead singer Natalie Maines commented, "If you wonder why Marty and Emily aren't saying much, well…there was this one time." And she left it at that. The crowd responded with cheers and applause. Some say they have fueled their own fire. You bet! It's called marketing and public relations. Their new documentary, "Shut Up and Sing," was released during the heated election season. Coincidence? Hardly. Just like Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," this film was produced to make you think. You are not supposed to agree with all of it, just think about it and try to gain some perspective. Think the Dixie Chicks were the only ones to say something negative about President Bush? Pink's latest album included a song called "Dear Mr. President," which clearly states her negative thoughts on things. So did hundreds of others. Just search the Web and you'll be surprised at what you find. Were their CD's smashed? No. Were those songs banned by radio stations? No. Do I agree with the choices that Natalie has made? Not necessarily. But, it's her right as an American to say what she thinks, celebrity figure or not. Their latest album took some risks, along with the new movie. It's clear that the Dixie Chicks are going to continue to tell us their thoughts on things. In the first song on the new album, "Taking The Long Way," Natalie sings about how she wouldn't do what she was told to and just couldn't be a follower. Perhaps we could learn something from that.
Time Magazine recently included the Chicks in their Top 100 People Who Shape Our World. "
The Chicks, bless 'em, don't just carry a macrochip on their shoulders…One country and one form of music aren't enough to contain them or stifle their passion. They'll sing but they won't shut up. That seems downright American." (Time, author Richard Corliss) Just this week, the Dixie Chicks were nominated for four Grammy awards. They even received the Big Three: Best Album, Song and Record. That's more than country music's latest darling, Carrie Underwood. Sure, Carrie is sweet and has a nice voice, but there is not much substance there. I'd take the Chicks and their politics any day. At least their songs have some meaning to them. Natalie, Emily and Marty have the courage to write and sing about the hard topics, things that come from experience and heart ache, not just what another person says they should sing about. After all, isn't that what being an American is all about?