Dixie Chicks feel backlash at CMT show

The Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 4/8/03 | Craig Seymour

[Gothmog]

Sometimes forgiveness is hard to come by, as the Dixie Chicks learned Monday night during CMT's annual Flameworthy Video Music Awards.

The trio, currently experiencing a heated backlash for criticizing President Bush during a London concert, didn't attend the event, which is like country's MTV Awards. But at least one presenter tried to put in a good word for them.

"We're in the South, a place of sin and redemption and hopefully forgiveness," said comedian Brett Butler. "So maybe in a couple of weeks, we'll just all try to forgive the Dixie Chicks."

Her words were met with a wall of boos.

Not only that, but the Chicks, one of country's all-time top-selling acts, failed to win any of the four awards for which they were nominated. This is especially significant since the Flameworthies are voted on by fans on CMT's Web site. (Voting closed April 5.) The group/duo category served as an especially biting example of anti-Chicks sentiment.

Though the Chicks' latest album, "Home," has sold more than 3 million copies, the group was beaten by country boy band Rascal Flatts, which has moved less than 500,000 units of its current set, "Melt."

The debate over the Chicks' comments is just one example of how country has emerged as the genre most immediately impacted by the war in Iraq. The current No.1 country song is Darryl Worley's pro-war ballad, "Have You Forgotten," which he performed to a standing ovation during the show. The tune plays like a Bush administration policy paper in linking 9/11 with the situation in Iraq. "And you say we shouldn't worry about bin Laden/Have you forgotten," Worley sang to the cheering crowd.

Others seemed to deliberately avoid commenting on the war. Sheryl Crow, who has worn anti-war clothing and accessories at other award shows this year, simply donned a black Johnny Cash T-shirt when performing "Picture," her hit duet with Kid Rock.

Predictably, the most outspoken artist on the war was firebrand Toby Keith, who co-hosted the program with the seemingly inflatable Pamela Anderson. Early in the evening, he struck a subdued, conciliatory note: "Whether you're for it or against it, let's support the guys and girls who are over there."

But by the end of the night he was performing a medley of Merle Haggard's "Fightin' Side of Me" with his own chest-thumping 9/11 anthem, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," amid blazing pyrotechnic blasts and showers of confetti.

When "Courtesy" won best video, Keith said, "I'd like to dedicate this great award to Mr. Rumsfeld [Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld] and [General] Tommy Franks and all the people putting it down for us over there. . . . God bless the USA, baby."

[TomGuy]

if TDC desire forgiveness, they should repent and do pennance first... to earn it.

Jeanene Garofalo is going to crawl to the White House over broken glass on her knees if/when chem weapons are found in Iraq. Maybe TDC can make a similar committment. JG has been seen at the local malls looking for kneepads.

[Huck]

She has a hit country duet with Kid Rock. 70s redux continues.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Her words were met with a wall of boos.

What? I thought only Freepers didn't like them. This implies that there are others out there that don't like them. This can't be!

[Gothmog]

Actually, the front page of the AJC web site just has a little picture of Anderson and a caption about her. I clicked on it hoping to check out the inflatables, but I got a much better article instead.

[Huck]

Merle Haggard's "Fightin' Side of Me"

GREAT song.

[handy]

I too like all kinds of music, both Country and Western.

[barker]

Have you heard Claude Kings "Cowboy in the White House? Borrowed my current tagline from it.

http://www.tillmanfranks.com/cowboyinthewhitehouse.htm

[submarinerswife]

Garaflo- or what ever the hell her name is, will NEVER apologize. Have you ever known a LIB to admit they're wrong?

[Dr. Scarpetta]

BUMP

[Gothmog]

Hey, I'm just glad someone covered it. I have not seen any other reporting of the event. If anyone saw it on TV, I'm sure we'd all like some additional reactions.

[Hatteras]

During the basketball game last night CBS advertised the Dixie Chicks were going to be on the Letterman show. I didn't stay up to watch but I was curious if anybody saw them. Anybody?

[TomGuy]

Garaflo- or what ever the hell her name is, will NEVER apologize. Have you ever known a LIB to admit they're wrong?

So true...Alec Baldwin is still here. I think she made that statement on FoxNews at the interview where Brian Kilmeade took her apart. I'm sure Brian kept a copy of THAT video in a vault. After this is all over and the chems are confirmed, I hope he reminds her constantly of her committment.

[smiley]

Kudos to Toby and his tribute!

[Under the Radar]

Thank you all for the replies. Shows how out of it I am-- I thought Kidd Rock was a wrestler! :0)

[azhenfud]

"So maybe in a couple of weeks...."

Such a short timeline for the critical to heal from the self-inflicted wound.

I was thinking about getting ready to almost reconsider my disappointment in them: maybe so in a couple of weeks....

[Gothmog]

Nope, but if anyone saw Letterman or the CMT, do us a favor and post an account.

[mommybain]

liberals like...Kathy Mattea

Oh man, can't go to the movies, now I can't listen to my only country CDs. I love her voice, it's like velvet.

[FreedomPoster]

>>I've been listening more to both Country and Western music lately.

I just put an XM satellite radio system in my car. While I have not generally been a country fan, I've spent some time listen to the "Hank's Place" channel which is "classic country". I'm liking it!

XM also has the FNC audio feed, which has been nice to have.

http://www.xmradio.com/programming/full_channel_listing.jsp?sort=number