In 2003, the American country band The Chicks (then known as The Dixie Chicks) publicly criticized then President George W. Bush at the opening of a concert in London.
Natalie Maines, the lead singer of The Chicks, introduced the song “Travelin’ Soldier” by saying, “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
Maines’ statements came nine days before the invasion of Iraq, sanctioned by President Bush. Following the September 11th attacks, taking a political stance that was perceived as anti-Bush and anti-war was not the norm for American country music. The Guardiansaid of the moment, “At a time when country stars are rushing to release pro-war anthems, this is practically punk rock.”
Backlash against the band was swift in the United States, with fans seeing them as “traitors” for not supporting the President. Multiple radio stations blacklisted their music, and listener polls in Atlanta showed that 76% of fans said they wished they could return their CDs by The Chicks. Protestors in Louisiana used farm equipment to destroy The Chicks’ albums, and the tour bus driver for the band even resigned over the controversy.
Taking the Long Way was the first studio album to be released by The Chicks following the 2003 controversy. The first physical single from the album was the anthem “Not Ready to Make Nice.”
While the song does have somewhat universal interpretation, all of the members of the band and the song’s co-writer Dan Wilson have said it is their response to the controversy following the statement by Maines. Maines herself said:
“From the outside, normal people really weren’t aware of how bizarre and absurd it got. Dan was really good at cluing in to that, saying something that didn’t back down, but still had a vulnerability to it. This album was therapy. To write these songs allowed me to find peace with everything and move on.”
“Not Ready to Make Nice” was released to universal critical and fan acclaim. The song peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, thanks in part to digital downloads given the band was still being blacklisted by country radio stations. The song was wildly popular in Canada, and became the highest charting track for The Chicks in the country peaking at number three.
The song went on to win three Grammy awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or a Group. When compiling a list of the best songs of the 2000s, Rolling Stone listed “Not Ready to Make Nice” at number 77 for the best songs of the decade.
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Related: The Chicks’ Natalie Maines Takes Fans Back in Time With a Single Instagram Post: ‘It’s 2003 Again!’