Originally posted by bbc.co.uk

Dixie Chicks tackle Bush backlash

Country music stars the Dixie Chicks have used their new single to hit back at people who made death threats after they criticised President George Bush.
The trio caused an outcry in 2003 after singer Natalie Maines said the band were "ashamed" the US President was from their home state of Texas.

They said the backlash was the focus of their new song Not Ready to Make Nice.

"We knew [the song] was special because it was so autobiographical," said banjo player Emily Robison.

NOT READY TO MAKE NICE LYRICS
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Sayin' that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over


"The stakes were definitely higher on that song.

"And once we had that song done, it freed us up to do the rest of the album without that burden."

Dixie Chicks, comprised of Maines, Robison and Martie Maguire, were performing in London on the eve of the Iraq war when Maines made the comments.

She said: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

US radio stations reported a flood of protests from listeners angered by the comments, while some dropped the band's music from playlists.

The trio also said they received death threats, which led to them installing metal detectors at their shows.

Maines later said she regretted her remark, but remained passionately against the war.

Not Ready to Make Nice is from the band's new album, Taking the Long Way, released in the US in May.