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."

[submarinerswife]

This is what I found on the CMT website-no mention of any comments about them from the other winners

"Explaining that the south is “a place of sin and redemption and, hopefully, forgiveness,” Butler added, “Maybe in a couple weeks we’ll just all try to forgive the Dixie Chicks, okay?” When boos began drifting onstage from the crowd, Butler joked, “You boo me up in that seat. By the time you get down here to kick my ass, I’ll be gone.” She added, “Everybody in here’s a good American, so just stop it.”

[TomHarkinIsNotFromIowa]

It was a rerun methinks. That way they could perform without boos and dodging furniture. There is a definite attempt of CPR being done.

[FreedomPoster]

That's a first. I have *never* heard Kid Rock described as "semi country".

I can't wait to try that one out on my sixteen-year-old son. I predict a look of shock, dismay, followed by laughter.

[demosthenes the elder]

Ohhhhhh, that's RIGHT!
I had totally forgotten about Jeanine's silly little oath to crawl on hands and knees over broken glass to the White House to deliver her abject apology to Dubya.
I bet SHE has forgotten, too.
I think we need to REMIND her, yes?
I think we need to start a FReep/online-petition now for that very purpose.
How does one go about doing such a thing?

[ladtx]

Brett Butler? I she had OD'd by now.

[Hatteras]

I did flip over to the awards long enough to catch Kid Rock in the audience with Hank Williams, Jr. as Kid Rock was sneaking a quick swig out of a whiskey miniature.

[submarinerswife]

"That's a first. I have *never* heard Kid Rock described as "semi country".
Actually he performs w/Hank Williams Jr and Hank referrs to him a an adopted son. Kind of sick, isn't it?

[RippleFire]

bump

[ladtx]

Sniff. Sniff. The AJC simply can't stand it, can they?

Ditto. You can tell it really pained them to write this story. They tried to spin as much as they could, but it's hard to spin Toby Keith.

[Gothmog]

Thanks for the update. Boos drifting onstage? I like the "Wall Of Boos" line better, ha ha ha.

[YourAdHere]

Man, I wish I'd seen this. Does anyone know if it will be rebroadcast?

[legman]

Prediction: By the end of this concert tour the sisters will announce that Natalie is leaving the group for creative differences.

[DeathfromBelow]

Be careful your wife will think you are having an affair. humor.

[Warriormom]

Unless there's more Freepers out there than we thought!

[Huck]

More like reflux, IMO!

Good one! Could be a genre. How about an album by Lenny Kravitz called "Acid Reflux"? I LIKE IT!

[TomHarkinIsNotFromIowa]

Sorry, I don't know. Letterman's show was the one on tape. It was rebroadcast from late august. Back when the stupid was in FatNats head and hadn't left her mouth. Do you think Lipton paid Butler to float the comment to see what would happen?