Posted on 01/30/2006 11:41:01 AM PST by beansox
Heart of Dixie Three years later, Dixie Chicks frontwoman Natalie Maines talks to Entertainment Weekly about why she's ''pretty much done'' with Nashville in the wake of her anti-Bush comments by Whitney Pastorek
On March 10, 2003, the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines stepped onto a London stage and announced, ''We're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.'' All hell promptly broke loose. A month later, she and bandmates Martie Maguire and Emily Robison finally addressed the controversy for the first time, posing naked on the cover of EW and candidly discussing the firestorm Maines' comment sparked. Now the group is prepping its first album since The Incident, and they're promising it will be a big departure from past work. Produced by Rick Rubin, it's shaping up to be an old-fashioned rock album, reminiscent of '70s rock bands like the Eagles (the still-untitled disc is due in stores this April). One highlight is sure to be ''Not Ready to Make Nice,'' which directly addresses the fallout from the big Bush bash. When we called Maines for an exclusive preview, she — not shockingly — had plenty to say.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Tell me about the songwriting and the sorts of messages you guys wanted to put into the album. I've heard you discuss The Incident? NATALIE MAINES We had tried to write about it a couple times before and it just wasn't right, you know? Sometimes you can be a little scared to rehash it or sound preachy, and I think [''Not Ready To Make Nice''] is just very honest.
Let's say the album comes out and everyone who was outraged about your comments embraces it with open arms. Are you gonna go back to Nashville and say, ''Hey, we're back!'' Or has this completely altered the course you guys were on? For me as a person, [The Incident has] completely altered the course I was on. For me to be in country music to begin with was not who I was. I liked Martie and Emily's playing, but I did not grow up liking country music. And I guess I was ignorant to the fact that the stereotypes behind country music were true — and it was disappointing. And so at this stage, I can never... I would be cheating myself and not setting a good example for my children to go back to something that I don't wholeheartedly believe in. So I'm pretty much done. They've shown their true colors. I like lots of country music, but as far as the industry and everything that happened... I couldn't want to be farther away from that. And it's easier when you're financially set, because you can be a little more ballsy, and just do what you want to do. I don't want people to think that me not wanting to be a part of country music is any sort of revenge. It is not. It is totally me being who I am, and not wanting to compromise myself and hate my life. All of my anger... I've pretty much gotten past that. Writing the album was therapy.
So the hair-metal album is coming out when? [Laughs] If I had my way, we'd have a hair-metal covers album! But I don't think I'm gonna have my way...
Do you think if this hadn't happened — The Incident, as we keep calling it — that you would have eventually come to the decision to leave country anyway? Gosh, who knows. I never like to guess about the future or what I would have done. I'm just grateful that all of this did happen. None of the three of us have any regrets. It was eye-opening, and positive in so many ways. I wouldn't change any of it. I want people to be clear that there is no ill will when I say that I can't be a part of the industry. I don't mean country music, I just mean the industry. I don't want it to seem immature. I want people to know that it was given a lot of thought. And it's just honesty.
Do you think you guys bore the brunt of the anti-American accusations during the 2004 election? I don't really know what happened to other people, but I think we were made the examples. I mean, Jennifer Aniston called Bush a ''f---ing idiot'' [in a 2001 interview] and nothing happened to her.
Well, Brad broke up with her. [Laughs] That must be why. A closet Republican! I knew it. No, I think we probably got it more than anybody else.
''I Hope,'' your Katrina benefit single, is nominated for Best Country Song and Performance at this year's Grammys. If you guys win, you're not gonna walk up there and be like, ''Suckas!'' [Laughs] Who knows what I'll do. But I am very... um... I'm just kind of... what's the word I'm looking for? I'm neither here nor there about any of that stuff right now. I mean, it's always an honor to be nominated for a Grammy, that's the most prestigious music award. But I just... I don't know, it's almost kinda sad, I don't really get excited about it anymore.
When did you stop getting excited? Uh... when this whole thing went down. I don't know what that comes from. I'm sure time will heal that, too. I guess it just made a lot of things seem false to me.
How do Emily and Martie feel about this? Um... I don't know. We're all on the same page... professionally. And some of us like country music more than others [Laughs], but nobody's forcing anyone else not to... um... you know, go the direction that we're going. We're all on the same page.
Sometimes I wonder if there should be an Outspoken Frontmen Anonymous support group or something, where the people who aren't at the microphone saying the thing that gets everyone in trouble can go off and be like, ''Man, she did it again.'' ''I know, man, you should have heard what Bono said tonight.'' [Laughs] Well, I think what makes it different is, we were never political. It was totally circumstances. And when it all came down, Martie — we were in the elevator in London and she was like, ''I could have been the one that said that.'' There was no finger-pointing or blame. And Emily and Martie joke that even when they've said, uh, colorful things on stage, usually someone puts my name on it. [Laughs] It's not a problem. Every day a soldier dies, I am more proud that I spoke out. For the last three years, I am at a loss for words as to... what this country is. Who we are. I really think people have just gone insane. And they think we've gone insane. I think it's sad that you have to truly seek out the truth these days, because CNN and Fox News don't give it to you. So you can't really point a finger at individuals, because it's exhausting to seek out fact from fiction. I used to try and make sense of it but when Bush got reelected, I just didn't know what to do. Keep livin'. It's gotta change back. Politics — I just think it's all corrupt. The entire country is controlled by money. And I think that's what people feel, they don't — their voice isn't heard. They don't have a say. It's corporate America. My friend made up the word corpocracy. I love that word.
Do you think you'll ever publicly take a stand about anything that loudly again? Oh yeah, sure. Now I say we have nothing to lose. [Laughs] Nothing to lose. And I feel a responsibility to do it now. I didn't realize how quiet I was being. But it's exhausting to keep doing it. You feel like you're fighting an uphill battle. But — it's just not in me to shy away from things that I truly believe in. I have to stand up for them. So no. I'm not afraid of any of that.
Natalie never liked country? Well, considering that her dad was a country musician, she must have had one sucky childhood.
Hmmm...and they are just about to release a new CD. I guess Natalie wants it to tank even worse than it will.
How soon until the other two chicks deep six this Albatross?
Well, I never liked the Ditzy Chicks so I guess we're even.
She doesn't like country. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Hey, I don't like HER, and I sure don't listen to her 'music', although I do like a tad of country every now and then. Girl needs to move out of country, literally.
This just shows why she's a liberal moonbat that no one cares about anymore.
As Larry the Cable guy said: "If it weren't for them two hot girls, that Natalie Maines would be working in a Lane Bryant in Nashville, TN."
She doesn't like country. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Hey, I don't like HER, and I sure don't listen to her 'music', although I do like a tad of country every now and then. Girl needs to move out of country, literally.
And Country never really liked Natalie Maines.
I'll admit I liked them...but my older CDs have all been 12 guaged. I won't be buying any of their new stuff.
"Buy my new record you stupid hillbillies!"
The new album is "reminiscent of 70's rock bands like the Eagles". We'll just see about that. But it's gotta be full of "feelings".
Lloyd was pretty much outside the country mainstream himself. He started playing with Joe Ely - who toured with the Clash in the US. And in addition to playing with and producing various Texas troubadors, he has played with the likes of Richard Buckner, Uncle Tupelo and Wilco. Hardly what most folks call country.
Better put some ice on that babe and pop a few quaaludes. There's another couple years yet to go.
My guess is that she only got into the band because she saw it as the quickest way to success.
Just where does she think the band is going to fit in now? Rock? Alternative? Easy Listening? This is already a very hard time for musicians to make their mark, much less a group with an identity crisis.
I wonder if she springs out of bed in the morning and scans the news with gleeful anticipation...
At her size I doubt she "springs" anywhere unless its at the all you can eat HomeTown Buffet!
Feelings.....nothing more than feelings......
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