The Chicks took the stage at the 2024 Democratic National Convention on Thursday night, August 22, to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the event’s final night at Chicago’s United Center, energizing a crowd eager for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s speech.
Recognized as 13-time Grammy winners and the “biggest-selling U.S. female group of all time,” the trio—Natalie Maines and sisters Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire—stepped onto the stage dressed in simple gray and black outfits. Without saying a word, they delivered a breathtaking a cappella rendition of the national anthem, showcasing their intricate harmonies. They exited the stage with bright smiles and waves.
Before their performance, they encouraged fans on their X account to “Use your voice. Use your vote.”
This marked The Chicks’ second appearance at a DNC, as they also performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the virtual Democratic National Convention in 2020 to support President Biden’s nomination. During that performance, they harmonized beautifully on a three-way split screen.
The Chicks have a contentious history dating back to 2003 when they, then known as the Dixie Chicks, faced backlash from conservatives after Maines expressed her embarrassment to be from the same state as President George W. Bush due to his stance on the Iraq War. The fallout led to many radio stations banning their music and a significant withdrawal from the country music scene. They released the song “Not Ready to Make Nice” in 2006, which won the Grammy for song and record of the year in 2007. Although they toured intermittently, their last album, Gaslighter, did not come out until 2020.
The convention also highlighted other artists in the country and Americana genres, with Mickey Guyton and Jason Isbell performing on the first night and Maren Morris taking the stage on the third night.