Dixie Chicks to tour US in 2016, first time in a decade

The Dixie Chicks are going back on the road.

The country group had previously planned a European tour that will begin in April, and the Dixie Chicks have now added dates in the United States, in which they will perform for the first time since 2006. 

That year was also the last time the Dixie Chicks released new music, though singer Natalie Maines released a solo album, “Mother,” in 2013 and Dixie Chicks members Martie Maguire and Emily Robison have released work under the name Court Yard Hounds.

The North American section of the Dixie Chicks’ 2016 tour will begin in Cincinnati in June and will continue through October. Tickets for some stops will go on sale to the public beginning Nov. 20, then tickets for others will be available later in the month.

The Dixie Chicks are an incredibly successful music group and the highest-selling female group in the US, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Critics praised their 2006 album “Taking The Long Way,” noting the group’s ability to blend genres like rock and bluegrass. 

Artists like Taylor Swift have named them as influences for their own work.

Many most likely remember the Dixie Chicks today for their role in a political controversy. After Maines made comments that were critical of then-President George W. Bush during a concert, some country music stations decided not to play the group’s music and some protesters destroyed albums by the group.

Country music is traditionally thought of as being closely tied to conservative politics. But the genre has grown hugely in popularity and in 2014, the genre was the most popular on the radio. This suggests country music is crossing political boundaries. 

However, controversies over political or social issues can still erupt. After the country music group Little Big Town released the song “Girl Crush” in 2014, country radio listeners objected to what they saw as lyrics promoting an LGBT agenda and some stations stopped playing it.