Yup. These gals will serve as a textbook example in business schools around the world on how to destroy your own career.
Although I was never a big fan I did like their music quite a bit, and still do (in theory). I did and do think Natalie Maines is a fine singer. (And I greatly respect her father, Lloyd Maines: a (steel) guitarist, performer, record producer, etc who's done wonderful things for Texas music, helped along many fine young artists, and helped both them and old pros make great recordings.)
Just the other day, though, I pulled out an old video tape of the Dixie Chicks on Austin City Limits. It was a fine show, but I just couldn't enjoy it.
I just can't watch, or listen to, The Fat One now without thinking about what an arrogant, ill mannered, airhead she is. The Chicks have just put up too many obstacles to enjoying their music, and most of them are utterly gratuitous obstacles. I don't care if Natalie doesn't like Bush. I don't even care (well, a little, but not all that much) if she expresses that view on a London stage. It wasn't that offense itself, but the rude and graceless follow on. If she'd said something like, "well, you know, I stand by my views, and my expression of them, but I understand that others see things differently, and appreciate that many think I crossed over a line" it woulda been fine by me. I coulda gone on enjoying their music. But instead they gotta keep getting in my face. They've become willing controversy whores, and the whole thing is just so blatantly stupid that everything about them offends me now.
Damn shame. I hear their latest album is pretty good musically.