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."

[najida]

I watched the CMT awards and the DC's would have been EXTREMELY uncomfortable...

From the Booing at the mention of their names, to lots of people wearing red, white and blue, to flags waving and the crowd going wild during Worley's "Don't You Remember (9-11)"....to Tobey Keith being unabashedly patriot....

This by a man that Natatlie had trashed in an interview....I think CMT was sending a loud and clear message. Sorta like, payback is a B@itch, ain't girls?

Seems country music is more real these days and more on the pulse of the public....I am listening to it more myself.

[SerpentDove]

>>"So maybe in a couple of weeks, we'll just all try to forgive the Dixie Chicks." <<

Forgive them? According to Natalie Maines, she has done nothing wrong, and the more flak she gets, the prouder she is of what she said.

I say forget them.

[TC Rider]

Brett Butler is Ann Lewis with a southern accent.

Never cared for that dumb show, Grace under Fire, of hers either.

[Sam Cree]

Hey, it's not me that said to forgive them!

I'm really angry at the leftist Dixie chx.

[Landru]

Y'know this trio was on top of the world until the chubby bimbo destroyed 'em all with her emptheaded & thoughtless comment.

So I was thinking about what the other two members must be saying about all this to the big mouth, behind cosed doors?
I mean, they're equal "partners" in the DC, right?

Then it dawned on me there's only one recourse the other two really have, right now.
Dump *Natalie* & find another partner for their act in an attempt to save the "name."

Bet'cha the sheisters have been assembled for the battle over *how* this'll go down.

...weeks ago. :o)

[GraniteStateConservative]

I still listen to Mattea and the rest. They're just misguided and they haven't said the things Maines has.

[Hildy]

And as much as I hate to admit it, the Kid Rock/Cheryl Crow song, Picture is one of my favorites. It's really an old style country tune, different than the heavily produced songs that pass as country today.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Ricky Skaggs is a big Bush supporter and gets along with her just fine. He's kidded her about the fact that she was a Gore supporter and Gore lost. I only boycott the people who show no class. Mary is a Democrat and so are millions of other people. I disagree with her, but life goes on.

[SerpentDove]

Oh I know. Please don't misundertsand. I got what you were saying COMPLETELY. I was just piling on.

;-)

[TomHarkinIsNotFromIowa]

I would like to see what kind of music gets BOUGHT at the record store nowdays. Do you think artists are going to try to play to customers and not file downloaders. And they might even try to move their music into a catagory that people will actually pay for? Right now I bet religous music by far is the most profitable.

[Libertys Kid]

nataliemaines.com

[Sam Cree]

Oh, thanks. I've been having a good time piling on the dixie chx too.

[tutstar]

ping

[rewrite]

As good a guy as Ricky is, If you can't get along with him- it YOU who has the charater flaw. Been around him a good bit, and he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met.

That being said, there is a certain amount of a "family" feel to the music bidness. More so among present and former label mates. Ricky and Mary recorded for most of their "hot" careers for Sony,the Chicks and Travis Tritt's current label.

Talked to several people who attended the show last night . Every time the words "Dixie Chicks" were spoken,thunderous booing and hissing commenced.

Fan mail has turned to hate mail, and justifiably so. The Chicks have been booted from the family.

[legman]

I'm all for freedom of speech. I don't think Natalie should be tried for "treason" like some others have suggested. She had every right to say what she said.

But when you take a stand, be ready to live with the consequences. I've been a Chix fan for a long time, but I will never buy another CD, I will never watch another one of their videos, and I will change the station anytime one of their songs is played. That is my right and my expression of protest.

There are some other artist who share the same opinions as Natalie, who have the common sense and the intellegence to exercise restraint in smearing the Commander-in-chief, the military, and the country, especially when performing on foreign soil. I will continue to enjoy their music and even respect their right to their opinions.

Natalie should remember that freedom of speech isn't free. Some pay for it with blood, only time will tell what price she will pay.

[666beast]

toby keith bump.

dude's a stud.

he needs more exposure as he is a kick ass and take names kind of guy and america needs more of that.

go country!

[SamAdams76]

Are you sure about Marty Stuart? He sure doesn't strike me as the liberal type. He always seemed like a "good ole boy" to me. He grew up around Johnny Cash and played with many of the bluegrass greats in his youth. Speaking of Stuart, I haven't heard much from him lately. It seemed in the mid 1990s that he was headed for superstardom.

[Montfort]

"backlash for criticizing President Bush during a London concert"

What she said was not "criticism." Few of us would mind if someone merely differed on policy or approach. In fact, before troops went into battle, it would be fine to say that you thought this proposed war was ill-advised. Not that any of us has to listen to you or agree with you.

Going to a foreign country and saying you are ashamed to be from the same state as our President, while legal, goes beyond "criticizing."

On the other hand, what Arnet did was treason, pure and simple, in my opinion.

I turned to a favorite country station this morning, and had to quickly turn the station, as the Dixie Chicks were on, with a song I used to like.