Country group the Dixie Chicks have dropped the word 'Dixie' from their band name and are now going by 'The Chicks.'
The trio is notoriously political. In 2003, they criticized then-President George W. Bush before America invaded Iraq and they were consequently shunned in the country music community. Lead singer Natalie Maines said at the time: "We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas."
Now, they've dropped 'Dixie' from their name - the word is considered by some to be a positive and nostalgic one referencing the Civil War-era South.
They made the change on Thursday afternoon, releasing their new music video as the Chicks and changing their social media. Representatives confirmed the name change.
The group's members, Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire, have yet to comment on the change but they did make a statement on their new website. When fans go to DixieChicks.com it automatically redirects to TheChicks.com.
The message, alongside the music video for their new song 'March March' reads: "We want to meet this moment.”
The music video has footage of civil rights protests throughout the years. It leads with the quote: "If your voice held no power, they wouldn’t try to silence you" and encourages fans to vote.
The political song was produced by Jack Antonoff. Lyrics include "Underpaid teacher policing the hallways / Print yourself a weapon and take it to the gun range / Ah, cut the s**t, you ain't going to the gun range," "Watchin' our youth have to solve our problems...Half of you love me, half already hate me," and "Tell the ol' boys in the white bread lobby / What they can and can't do with their bodies / Temperatures are rising, cities are sinkin' / Ah, cut the s**t, you know your city is sinkin.'"
Footage of young activists is seen throughout, including pictures of Emma Gonzalez and Greta Thunberg.
At the end of the deeply moving music video, the names of black people who have been killed due to incidents involving law enforcement are shown, as well as information for websites including Black Lives Matter, March for Our Lives and more.
They're not the first country group to make a name change in recent weeks. The band Lady Antebellum changed their name to Lady A earlier this month. Lady A released a statement on social media and said after “personal reflection, band discussion, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closest black friends and colleagues.”
The Chicks are set to release Gaslighter, their first new album as a band in 14 years, on July 17.
