Unique Insight: The Chicks will perform the National Anthem at the DNC on Thursday's event
The country music group, previously known as the Dixie Chicks, are set to grace the stage on the final night of the DNC, paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris' speech to commence.
Their performance on the National Anthem at the convention is noteworthy – not only due to country music's traditionally conservative fanbase – but because of the band's past entangled in politics.
Back in 2003, before the Iraq invasion, the band's lead singer, Natalie Maines, expressed at a concert that the group, originating from Dallas, did not endorse the war and felt "ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas."
This statement led to boycotts and backlash from fans, resulting in country radio stations across the nation removing the group's music from their playlists. At the time, CNN reported that "station managers explained their decisions were influenced by angry listener calls deeming criticisms of the president unpatriotic."
This will not be The Chicks' first convention appearance as they also performed at the virtual 2020 DNC during the pandemic. Both political conventions this year have made a grand comeback, returning to their grand-scale, live and in-person formats. The DNC, in particular, has brought a dash of revitalized Hollywood energy with a series of celebrity appearances, performances, hosts, and a vibrant music-infused roll call.
The Chicks, comprising Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer, are among the best-selling female bands and country groups in music history. They have amassed 13 Grammys, 10 CMA awards, and eight ACM awards.
The Chicks have joined the ranks of other country stars recruited by the DNC this week, signifying a shift in the genre's historical leanings and possibly some of its audiences, who the Harris-Walz campaign hopes will vote in the elections. In recent years, progressive young talents have risen in the country music scene.
Country singer Mickey Guyton graced the stage on the DNC's opening night.
"For me, this goes beyond a genre of music," Guyton told CNN about her DNC performance. "This is about humanity. This is about the culture. This is about our country, and I'm honored to be a part of history."
On Wednesday, Maren Morris performed at the convention. Known as the most vocal liberal country star, Morris is outspoken about LGBTQ+ rights and women's rights. In 2023, Morris told the LA Times she was distancing herself from country music due to the conservative views she found problematic within the industry. "I thought I'd like to burn it to the ground and start over," she told the outlet about country music. "But it's burning itself down without my help."
In 2022, Morris got into a public spat with conservative country star Jason Aldean over gender-affirming healthcare.
Aldean, one of Donald Trump's biggest supporters in the music industry, attended the Republican National Convention last month. He did not perform but sat with Trump in his VIP box. When the former president took the stage at the RNC, he praised Aldean as the "biggest star in country music."
Country-rock star Kid Rock performed at the RNC, stirring chants of "fight, fight" and "Trump, Trump" into a mashup of his songs "Cowboy" and "American Bad A—," which he sang just before Trump took the stage for his speech. "He's become a friend of mine over the last ten years and he's amazing," Trump said of Kid Rock. "Everyone loves him."
Despite the backlash in 2003, the Chicks' music was still a popular form of entertainment, with country radio stations playing their songs regularly.In honor of Vice President Harris' speech, the country music group's comeback performance will undoubtedly provide an entertaining and powerful conclusion to the DNC.
