 Some music lovers can't forgive the popular Dixie Chicks for dissing the president and then country music. Just look at ticket sales for tonight at Target Center. If the Bush-bashing Dixie Chicks aren't ready to make nice, neither are many of their fans. "No way I'm going to their concert this time," said longtime follower Elizabeth Wilson, 26, of Dilworth, Minn., who feels burned by the Chicks' big mouths. "They can go to France."
| “Maines issued an apology, then retracted it. More recently, the Chicks said they don't want their album in the same changer with discs by Toby Keith and Reba McEntire...” |
Tonight, about 10,000 people are expected to see the Dixie Chicks at Target Center in Minneapolis -- one of their biggest audiences this year, but a far cry from the nearly 40,000 who attended two sold-out St. Paul concerts in 2003 by the blockbuster country trio. While their new CD went straight to No. 1 in June, ticket sales have been so soft for the Chicks' Accidents and Accusations Tour that they canceled concerts in 14 cities, including Des Moines, Fargo, N.D., and Houston. Faster than you can whistle "Dixie," the Chicks have again become the most polarizing music act since Eminem. "People are divided down the middle," said Andy Elliott, program director for two Des Moines country radio stations, one of which has ignored the trio's new CD. "There is amazing passion by the fans on both sides."
| But if they're ignoring the trio, are they 'fans' any longer? |
The Texas trio first upset fans when lead singer Natalie Maines dissed President Bush at a London concert in 2003. She issued an apology, then retracted it. More recently, the Chicks said they don't want their album in the same changer with discs by Toby Keith and Reba McEntire, a pronouncement akin to a NASCAR driver dissing rednecks. |