The final day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention took place in Chicago on Thursday, featuring Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepting her party’s presidential nomination.
The day’s events included a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by The Chicks, who were formerly known as “The Dixie Chicks” before changing their name in 2020. The decision to drop the name “Dixie,” associated with the Confederate states, followed increased scrutiny that year. In a message on their website, signed by members Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer, the group expressed their desire to “meet this moment.”
The Chicks also released a song titled “March March,” accompanied by a video showcasing historical protests and highlighting the names of victims like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. In a 2020 interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the group shared that they considered changing their name to their initials, “M.E.N.,” humorously noting it would mean transitioning from “chicks to MEN.”
Maines mentioned that the group had long wanted to evolve their name, using “DCX” and “The Chicks” alongside “Dixie Chicks,” with hopes it would resonate more broadly. They officially changed their social media handles, and their website now redirects to thechicks.com.
Maines has openly discussed her evolving political views, joking during a 2022 appearance on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” that she could now see herself being affectionate toward George W. Bush, in light of her feelings about the current administration. She clarified that while her views about the Iraq War remain unchanged, her perspective on Bush has shifted due to the political climate.
Following their significant popularity in the late ’90s and early 2000s, The Chicks faced backlash from country radio in 2003 after Maines spoke out against Bush. They noted that they haven’t encountered him or his family since the controversy but had previously met him before those events.