Yup. I mean they took a match and immolated their career. They were huge in the C&W charts.
I do not listen to Country but I found the number for the local station. This was just after the little fat one open her big mouth. I called up and in a good ole boy voice said “I don’t want to hear them damn Dixie Chicks ever again.” They said thanks.
I think Natalie shortly after that rubbed salt into the wound and said “we do not need country fans.” She is a real brainiac. They had some libs show up for their shows for a short time.
NPR did everything they could think of for them. Long story on All Things Considered, segment on one of the weekend shows (On The Media, maybe), and also IIRC a segment on one of the "independent" American Public Radio shows that are carried on a lot of public-radio stations. To The Best Of Our Knowledge or one of those. They may have gotten a spot on A Prarie Home Companion too.
Lefty media really pulled out all the stops for them. Of course the only reason they paid them the slightest heed was because it was a way to poke a stick in Bush's eye. They played up the political angle, not the musical value of the group.
Problem is, lefty radio has a miniscule audience of total true believers. You're not going to win over anyone to your point of view there. Plus the whole lefty media system is so rife with careerism, nepotism, political correctness and wierd (that is, non-talent-based) hiring criteria that it has become practically unlistenable unless you are in need psychological support from like-minded bitter-enders.
I think they realized they needed to keep their opinions to themselves...just too late to salvage their careers. I do keep up with C&W music and the Dixie Chicks’ outburst and subsequent downfall has caused quite a few leftists in Nashville to keep their lips zipped.