Introduction
Crimson Defiance: The Chicks Revive “Taking the Long Way” for a Historic Fall Tour
On a recent Tuesday night, the studio audience of Jimmy Kimmel Live! witnessed a moment of pure, unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll defiance. Without a single word of introduction or a standard late-night explanation, The Chicks walked onto the stage draped head to toe in striking crimson. They launched immediately into the soaring, confrontational chords of “Not Ready to Make Nice”—the legendary anthem born out of the ashes of their 2006 blacklisting.
For anyone who remembers the tumultuous landscape of country music in the early 2000s, the song serves as a visceral reminder of a dark chapter. Following a few critical remarks about President George W. Bush made by lead singer Natalie Maines during a 2003 London performance, country radio stations pulled their music overnight. What followed was a wave of public backlash, shattered records, and genuine death threats.
“It was a song born out of public backlash, yet the very industry that turned its back on them ultimately handed them its highest honors.”
From Controversy to Five-Time Grammy Glory
What many casual listeners tend to forget, however, is the sheer magnitude of the trio’s ultimate triumph. Their 2006 album, Taking the Long Way, did not just survive the political firestorm—it completely conquered it. The record defied industry expectations by debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
More poetically, the music community that had temporarily exiled them ended up showering them with its highest accolades. The Chicks walked away from the 49th Annual Grammy Awards with five trophies, sweeping the major categories including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. It remains one of the most legendary vindications in music history.
The Taking the Long Way Theater Tour
Now, exactly two decades after the initial sparks of that cultural detonation, Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer are bringing that landmark album back to life. The Chicks have officially announced a full United States theater tour scheduled for this fall.
Night after night, the trio will step into intimate venues across the country to perform Taking the Long Way in its entirety, from the opening track to the final note. It is a rare opportunity for fans to experience the raw emotional architecture of an album that reshaped the boundaries of free speech in modern music.
Two decades have passed, but the fire has clearly not faded. By stepping back into the spotlight under a unified banner of crimson, The Chicks are sending a clear message to the world. They are still wearing red. They are still standing their ground. And most importantly, they are still not ready to make nice.