The Dixie Chicks Have Changed Their Name To Avoid Associations With Slavery-Era Culture
The move comes fast on the heels of a similar decision by Lady Antebellum.
The band once known as the Dixie Chicks have announced that they are changing their name to simply, “The Chicks” in order to avoid associations with the slavery culture of the American South in the lead-up to the civil war.
The band have been gearing up to release their new album, Gaslighter, their first in 14 years. That record, which was originally due to be dropped a few months ago, has been indefinitely delayed, due to the coronavirus crisis.
However, along with the name change, the band have also released a fresh single, ‘March March’. That’s stoked more hope that the record might emerge sooner rather than later.
Certainly, at the very least, the name change is a positive bit of news to tide us all over until Gaslighter makes its way into our lives. After all, the ‘Dixie’ in the band’s name always had unpleasant connotations, as Variety writer Jeremy Helligar pointed out in an op-ed for that publication — the word Dixie is taken from the Mason-Dixon line, a demarcation between four US states that became part of the border for the Confederate states during the Civil War.
“A sincere and heartfelt thank you goes out to “The Chicks” of NZ for their gracious gesture in allowing us to share their name,” The Chicks said to Pitchfork in a statement. “We are honored to co-exist together in the world with these exceptionally talented sisters. Chicks Rock!”
The move by The Chicks follows a similar decision made by Lady Antebellum, the country trio that changed their name to Lady A earlier this year.