The Dixie Chicks Have Changed Their Name to "The Chicks"
The Dixie Chicks have changed their name, dropping the "Dixie" and going forth as "The Chicks."
The country trio appeared to announce the change when they released a new video on Thursday for the song "March March" under "The Chicks" and adjusted their name on social media. The music video features images and footage of images of current and historical protests for women’s rights, gay rights, environmental causes and Black Lives Matter.
In a statement to Pitchfork, the band confirmed the name change and thanked the New Zealand band also known as "The Chicks" for allowing them to share in the name. "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 statement read. "We are honored to co-exist together in the world with these exceptionally talented sisters. Chicks Rock!"
The band did not say why they changed their name, but the term "Dixie," associated with the south and southern culture, originally referring to the states south of the Mason–Dixon line. The name change comes ahead of the release of their first album in 14 years, Gaslighter, out on July 17.
Lady Antebellum, another musical group, also recently changed their name, citing the term antebellum's connections to slavery. The group will now be known as Lady A, a name they will share with Blues singer named Anita White, who also goes by the stage name Lady A. According to The A.V. Club, the two acts spoke to one another and, according to a post on Lady A's (the band) Instagram, they had "transparent, honest, and authentic conversations."
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"When we set out together almost 14 years ago, we named our band after the southern 'antebellum' style home where we took our first photos," the band said in a statement. "As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the south that influenced us ... southern rock, blues, R&B, gospel and of course country," the band wrote. "But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before the civil war, which includes slavery."
