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Natalie Louise Maines (born October 14, 1974) is an American musician. She is the lead vocalist for the country band the Chicks.
In 1995, after leaving Berklee College of Music, Maines was recruited by the Dixie Chicks to replace their lead singer, Laura Lynch. With Maines as lead vocalist, the band earned 10 Country Music Association Awards and 13 for their work between 1998 and 2007.
In 2006, the Dixie Chicks released Taking the Long Way. The album subsequently won five Grammy Awards (including Album of the Year). The Dixie Chicks' new album, Gaslighter was released on July 17, 2020. As a solo artist, Maines released the album, Mother, on May 7, 2013.
Following the completion of high school, Maines attended several colleges. She spent two semesters pursuing an undeclared major at West Texas A&M. Her studies focused heavily on radio, and a year and a half at South Plains College. One of Maines's instructors at South Plains, and a former member of The Maines Brothers Band, Cary Banks, recalled "She was mostly into rock'n'roll, rhythm and blues ... alternative rock." When Banks encountered Maines on campus, he said that she usually needed to vent a little steam. "She would get into a lot of political arguments" at the predominantly Republican school, and was a fan of Texas Governor Ann Richards. "She's always been opinionated and hardheaded like her dad." In December 1994, Maines auditioned for and received a full vocal scholarship to Berklee College of Music. She pursued the diploma program at Berklee but dropped out before the completion of her studies. Even though Maines is from Lubbock, home of Texas Tech University, she only attended the 1995 summer course in "Introductory Wildlife".
Maines co-wrote six songs overall for the Chicks' next three albums, including the Billboard charts Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart number one hit "Without You" on Fly. She was a primary songwriter on all 14 tracks of the band's 2006 album Taking the Long Way which peaked on the Billboard 200 chart at No. 1. Taking the Long Way has the Billboard Hot 100 single "Not Ready to Make Nice", (Maines, Strayer, Erwin, Wilson) hitting No. 4 and for which the band won the songwriting Grammy Award, for Song of the Year. Maines considers the songwriting she did for Taking the Long Way "pure therapy" after the controversy that ensued over a comment Maines made from the stage in London that criticized U.S. President George W. Bush. "Everything felt more personal this time", Maines said about the album, "there's just more maturity, depth, intelligence. ... These feel more grown-up."
Maines collaborates with other musical artists, both as a member of the Chicks and as an individual singer. The Chicks first worked with Sheryl Crow in 1999 while performing for the Lilith Fair concert tour. Since then, the Chicks have worked with Crow on her album, a Crow remixed version of "Landslide" performed by the Chicks, and the Chicks' song "Favorite Year" from Taking the Long Way. Maines has performed with artists including Pat Green, Charlie Robison, Yellowcard, Stevie Nicks, Patty Griffin, Neil Diamond, Eddie Vedder, Pete Yorn and Ben Harper.
On May 7, 2013, Maines released a solo album entitled Mother. This was Maines's first album since the Chicks hiatus started in 2007. The album was co-produced by Ben Harper. The album contains Maines's interpretation of several cover songs, including Pink Floyd's "Mother", Eddie Vedder's "Without You", and Jeff Buckley's "Lover, You Should've Come Over". She also sings about motherhood, feminism, and painful relationships.
In September 2015, Maines was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame. The ceremony took place at Lubbock High School from where she graduated in 1992.
Maines met actor Adrian Pasdar in May 1999 at the wedding of bandmate Emily Erwin to Charlie Robison. Maines and Pasdar married on June 24, 2000, at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. "Dixie Chick Natalie Maines Weds Adrian Pasdar in Early Morning Vegas Ceremony" , NY Rock, June 26, 2000 "Natalie Maines Gets Hitched", CMT, June 26, 2000Hatton, Spencer (November 26, 2006). "Why rent a castle when you've got the King?", Yakima Herald-Republic, p. B1. They have two sons.Dixie Chicks. Dixie Chicks: Taking the Long Way: Dates & Facts Dixie Chicks Official website. Retrieved April 19, 2007. During her marriage, Maines referred to herself as Natalie Pasdar.Kopple, Barbara; Peck, Cecilia. (2006) Documentary. Maines filed for divorce in July 2017; it was finalized in December 2019. "Dixie Chicks Singer Natalie Maines Settles Divorce From Adrian Pasdar" E! News, Retrieved August 26, 2022 The events leading to her divorce inspired multiple songs on the 2020 album Gaslighter. "The Dixie Chicks on the Price of Being Genuine"
Maine practices transcendental meditation.
Many American country music listeners supported the war, and Maines's remark triggered a backlash in the United States. The Dixie Chicks were Blacklisting by thousands of country radio stations, and the band members received death threats. Maines issued an apology, saying her remark had been disrespectful; in 2006 she rescinded the apology, saying she felt Bush deserved no respect. The backlash damaged sales of their music and sales of their next album and tour." on December 4, 2006]] At the first US concert after Maines's comment, she said from the stage, "They told me that you may not come, but I knew you'd come because we have the greatest fans in the whole wide world."Goodman, Amy. (February 15, 2007) "Shut Up And Sing: Dixie Chicks' Big Grammy Win Caps Comeback From Backlash Over Anti-War Stance" Democracy Now!. Retrieved February 24, 2007.Mattingly, David. (May 2, 2003) Fans turn out, cheer Dixie Chicks as U.S. tour opens CNN. Retrieved March 20, 2007. Despite fan turnout at concerts, the Dixie Chicks began receiving death threats as circulation of the comment increased. Subsequently, security was heightened at all concert venues and metal detectors were installed where possible.BBC. (April 24, 2003) Dixie Chicks 'get death threats'. Retrieved March 18, 2007. A death threat directed at Maines was received prior to the Dixie Chicks' concert on July 6, 2003, in Dallas, Texas. Maines described the threat as "scary because ... it wasn't just somebody wanting to write a hate letter. ... It was somebody who thought they had a plan." Security was heightened for the trip to and from the concert venue as well as at the arena.Associated Press. (May 11, 2006) Dixie Chicks recall death threat Today.com. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
On May 21, 2006, while promoting the release of the album Taking the Long Way, Maines recanted her 2003 apology to President Bush, saying, "I don't feel that way anymore. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever. ... If people are going to ask me to apologize based on who I am ... I don't know what to do about that. I can't change who I am."Tryangiel, Josh. (May 21, 2006) Chicks In the Line of Fire. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
Maines says she is not looking for more battles but that "The Incident," as it is referred to by the Dixie Chicks, reminded her of how she "felt in high school: to be angry, to be sure that you're right and that the things you do matter. You don't realize that you're not feeling those feelings until you do. And then you realize how much more interesting life is."
Two 2006 documentaries, Protesting the Dixie Chicks and , deal with the controversy surrounding Maines's comment and the ensuing fallout. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph on June 15, 2006, regarding the fallout from her comment, Maines again stirred up controversy by stating:
The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism; Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country ... I don't see why people care about patriotism.Sweeting, Adam. (15 June 2006) How the Chicks survived their scrap with Bush The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 March 2007.
In 2007, the Dixie Chicks won three Grammys for "Not Ready to Make Nice" and two Grammys for Taking the Long Way, receiving all five Grammys for which they were nominated. This was seen by some as vindication for the Dixie Chicks, who were shunned by country radio programmers after Maines's remarks about President Bush. As the Dixie Chicks accepted the album of the year award, Maines said, "I think people are using their freedom of speech with all these awards. We get the message."Moody, Nekesa Mumbi. (February 12, 2007) Dixie Chicks lead Grammys with 5 awards Associated Press. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
Maines publicly criticized Keith's song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" by saying, "I hate it. It's ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant. It targets an entire culture—and not just the bad people who did bad things. You've got to have some tact. Anybody can write, 'We'll put a boot in your ass.'" LA Daily News. (August 8, 2002) Natalie Maines (Dixie Chick member) Bashes Toby Keith's Patriotic Anthem. Retrieved March 17, 2007. Keith responded by belittling Maines's songwriting skills with, "I'll bury her. She has never written anything that has been a hit" and, "That's what I do—I write songs."CMT.com. (December 6, 2002) Toby Keith Reacts to Maines's Comments in Upcoming CMT.com Interview. Retrieved March 17, 2007.
After Maines commented at a March 2003 Dixie Chicks concert at the Shepherd's Bush Empire theatre in London that the Dixie Chicks didn't want the Iraq War and were "ashamed" President Bush "was from Texas", Keith's 2003 "Shock'n Y'all" tour began displaying a backdrop showing a doctored photo of Maines with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.BBC News. (June 3, 2003) Fresh Dixie Chicks row erupts. Retrieved March 17, 2007. Shortly thereafter, on May 21, 2003, Maines wore a T-shirt with the letters "F.U.T.K." written on the front while performing for the Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast. The Dixie Chicks website stated that the letters stood for "Freedom, United, Together in Kindness".Wolf, Buck. (April 26, 2005) Hilton vs. Richie: When Celebs Duke It Out – 7. Dixie Chicks vs. Toby Keith ABC News. Retrieved March 20, 2007. Many in the country music industry saw it as a veiled insult directed at Keith. The audience at the award show also booed the Dixie Chicks numerous times, the loudest being when their nomination for the Entertainer of the Year award was read out; Toby Keith subsequently won the award.BBC News. (May 22 2003) Dixie Chicks booed at music awards. Retrieved September 19 2024.
In the 2006 documentary , backstage footage prior to her appearance wearing the F.U.T.K. shirt recorded the conversation between Maines and Simon Renshaw and confirmed that the original intent of the shirt was in response to Keith's criticism of her: the letters stood for "Fuck You Toby Keith". As of January 2007, Keith continued to refuse to say Maines's name and argued that the doctored photos displayed during his concerts were intended to express his feeling that Maines's criticism was tyrannical and a dictator-like attempt to squelch Keith's free speech.Guzman, Rafer. (January 28, 2007) Toby Keith, angry American. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
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