Grammy-winning country group The Dixie Chicks have dropped the word Dixie from their name, now going by The Chicks.

The bandB次元官网网址檚 social media accounts and website were changed on Thursday to the refer to the new name for the band, which is made up of Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Strayer. The band also recognized that the name was already in use by a band in New Zealand.

B次元官网网址淎 sincere and heartfelt thank you goes out to B次元官网网址楾he ChicksB次元官网网址� of NZ for their gracious gesture in allowing us to share their name. We are honoured to co-exist together in the world with these exceptionally talented sisters,B次元官网网址� the band said in a statement.

The move follows a decision by country group Lady Antebellum to change to Lady A after acknowledging the wordB次元官网网址檚 association to slavery. A statement on The ChicksB次元官网网址� website said B次元官网网址淲e want to meet this moment.B次元官网网址� The term Dixie refers to Southern U.S. states, especially those that belonged to the Confederacy.

The Chicks, who are releasing their first new album in 14 years next month, also released a new video for their new song, B次元官网网址淢arch MarchB次元官网网址� that features videos and images from the recent Black Lives Matter rallies.

Lady A received criticism with their name switch after a Black singer revealed sheB次元官网网址檇 been performing as Lady A for years.

The Chicks are the best selling female group in America with more than 33 million albums sold in the United States, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Formed originally in Texas as a bluegrass group, the band hit commercial fame with their breakthrough album B次元官网网址淲ide Open Spaces.B次元官网网址� The band has won 13 Grammys.

The band was shunned by country radio over an incident in 2003 when lead singer Maines criticized then-President George W. Bush because of the Iraq War. They responded to the backlash with their song B次元官网网址淣ot Ready to Make Nice,B次元官网网址� and swept the Grammys in 2007 winning three of the top all-genre categories.

Kristin M. Hall, The Associated Press

Like us on and follow us on .

Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation