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As tributes to Toby Keith pour in after his untimely death, fans wondered if he ever reconciled with The Dixie Chicks before he died. Keep reading for all the details.
Dixie Chicks vs. Toby Keith
The all-girl group The Dixie Chicks rose to country music fame in the late 1990s. Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer, and Martie Maguire changed their name to just The Chicks in 2020 amid a nationwide racial reckoning after George Floyd’s police-involved death.
In the early 2000s, the world of country music was captivated by a high-profile feud between The Dixie Chicks and Toby Keith.
Wide Open Country recalls that the feud began when Natalie Maines publicly criticized his 2002 hit song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American.)”
Maines was also openly critical of the Gulf War and then-President George W. Bush. In response, Keith began hanging a faked photo of her next to Saddam Hussein at his concerts.
The feud escalated when Natalie Maines wore a t-shirt to the ACM Awards with the letters “F.U.T.K,” which she later admitted meant “F**ck You Toby Keith.”
Wow!
Did The Country Stars End Feud Before Toby Keith’s Death?
Toby Keith passed away earlier this week after a lengthy battle with stomach cancer. Fans were shocked because the singer just performed at the People’s Choice Country Awards in September.
In fact, he continued performing despite his illness. Fans and fellow country music stars shared tributes to the late singer. But many fans were also curious if Toby Keith and The Dixie Chicks ever made up after their feud.
While tales of the feud continue to enthrall country music fans, the rift was actually very short-lived. A year or so after the feud began, Toby Keith publicly expressed regret over it.
He told CMT in 2003 that he was “embarrassed” for his part in the dispute. Regarding the doctored photo, Toby Keith confessed that it was “funny for a night or two, and then it was a little over the top.”
The feud fizzled out, but it’s unclear if the “Red Solo Cup” singer and Natalie Maines ever mended fences privately.
Dixie Chicks Trend On Social Media
Both Toby Keith and The Dixie Chicks were trending topics on Twitter after news broke of his death. Some fans thought the Dixie Chicks were unfairly villainized for their criticism of the Gulf War.
With "Malice towards none and charity for all", I can both acknowledge and remember the early, fun, clever #TobyKeith music and forgive the artist his slights against the class act #DixieChicks. Few of us are 100% saints or devils.
See "My List" by @tobykeith https://t.co/N39qsvTQQh pic.twitter.com/8LOeVCH8W3
— DJ Murphy (@djmurfster) February 6, 2024
The trio’s songs were banned from the radio, and their feud essentially ruined their careers.
Over 20 years later, do you view the feud between the country stars differently? Sound off in the comments.