20 essential songs by The Chicks

Written by the band's Emily Strayer and Martie McGuire, "You Were Mine" is a heartbreaker of a song inspired by the aftermath of their parents divorce. It was a crossover success for The Chicks, charting on both the pop and country charts. 

After undergoing line-up changes and bringing on Natalie Maines as lead vocalist before the release of their smash January 1998 Grammy-winning album Wide Open Spaces, the then-Dixie Chicks stormed onto the country music scene with "There's Your Trouble," which nabbed a Grammy for best country performance by a duo or group with vocal.

This twisted tune about domestic violence and revenge carried out through poisoned peas was a sleeper success for The Chicks after it appeared on their 1999 album Fly, also a Grammy winner for best country album, and it remains one of their most enduring tracks. It was lightly controversial because of the serious subject matter, but that didn't stop "Goodbye Earl" from becoming a massive crossover hit. 

Written by Texan Bruce Robison, "Travelin' Soldier" is a devastatingly sad song about a romance destroyed by the violence of the Vietnam War. It was a No. 1 hit for The Chicks in 2002, and their last major success before frontwoman Natalie Maines's controversial comments about the Iraq War in early 2003.

With its bluegrass-inflected melody and lyrics lamenting the current state of country music, "Long Time Gone" earned The Chicks a Grammy Award for best vocal performance by a duo or group in 2003. 

The Chicks's first release after what many thought would be a career-ending incident involving anti-war comments made by the notoriously outspoken Maines, "Not Ready to Make Nice" dropped in early 2006 and was a massive success. It was also a strong statement against how the band had been treated throughout the controversy — the death threats and CD burnings — and earned The Chicks two Grammy Awards in 2007, including record of the year.

In 2020, The Chicks shocked the world with one hell of a comeback album in Gaslighter with an equally resonant title track. Gaslighter was The Chicks' first solo studio album since 2006's Taking the Long Way. After a lengthy hiatus, the album explores growing up, motherhood, and the aftermath of divorce through the lens of the highly polarized political environment that swirled — and additionally prompted the group to remove "Dixie" from their name.

It is perhaps not surprising that three artists from Texas would record a song about the vast expanses of the American West. Written by Susan Gibson, The Chicks released their own version of "Wide Open Spaces" in 1998, earning them a No. 1 and serving as the title track of their much-acclaimed major label debut. 

Thanks to its killer harmonies and catchy lyrics, "Cowboy Take Me Away" was an instant smash for The Chicks after its release in 1999. Hitting No. 1 on the country charts in both the United States and Canada, it was also a crossover hit, peaking at No. 27 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. 

In 2002, The Chicks offered their own interpretation of this classic originally penned by Stevie Nicks in 1974. The evocative cover arrived just before they effectively disappeared from the country charts following the controversy over Maines's comments about then-President George W. Bush. 

Released in 1998 on Wide Open Spaces, "Tonight The Heartache's On Me" is an excellent example of The Chicks's devotion to their neo-traditional sound. It's a twangy classic, perfect for listening at the honky-tonk after a breakup. 

Appearing on 2006's Taking the Long Way, "Easy Silence" represented a sonic shift for The Chicks. As part of their comeback, the band gravitated more toward adult contemporary and pop audiences after many country radio stations openly refused to play the album. 

Released in 2002 on the band's album Home, "Truth No. 2" is definitely a deeper Chicks cut, but one that certainly deserved more shine on the charts. 

If you want to introduce a new fan to The Chicks's incredibly lush harmonies, start with "Cold Day In July." Released in 2000, the song is one of the trio's most compelling vocal performances. 

Co-written by Maines and Strayer, "Sin Wagon" is the Dixie Chicks at their most raucous. They're looking to get into trouble on this tune, and the incredible fiddle and banjo from Maguire and Strayer pairs perfectly with Maines's mischievous vocals. 

Co-written by Maguire, "Ready to Run" helped introduce a broader audience to The Chicks's distinct sound when it was released on the soundtrack of the 1999 Julia Roberts-led rom-com Runaway Bride.

Written by legendary songwriter Patty Griffin, "Top of the World" is eerily beautiful thanks to its sparse instrumentation and the angelic harmonies of Maines, Strayer, and Maguire. 

Written by Maines, Strayer, and Maguire in the aftermath of the Iraq War controversy, "The Long Way Around" is deeply reflective and personal for the band. It sums up their ethos pretty neatly: "It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself," Maines sings. "Guess, I could've made it easier on myself, but I could never follow." 

Twangy and full of banjo, "Some Days You Gotta Dance" is a song that's all about letting loose and taking a little time to "live it up when you get the chance." Released in 2001, the song features guitar-playing from Keith Urban, whose rise to the top was just beginning. 

This sassy, tongue-in-cheek song encourages its love interest to forget about his former flame because the protagonist can simply do a better job of loving him. Released in 1997, it was the band's first real taste of commercial success, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.