The Dixie Chicks hit the studio for new album – minus Natalie

It’s always confusing when you get a good news/bad news situation because you don’t know whether to be happy or sad. The good news is The Dixie Chicks are recording a new album to be released for an as yet undisclosed date. The bad news is that the album will not feature lead singer Natalie Maines.

Sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison are working on the new album together and right now Natalie’s father Lloyd Maines says that there is no formal decision at this time as to the fate of The Dixie Chicks as a trio.

He did say this:

“They were all here at my house for Christmas. Everybody seemed happy and healthy. And they were back here on New Year’s Eve with their families. Everybody had a great time, but, I tell you, during holidays, I don’t ask any business questions, and they didn’t offer any insight. … But they’re definitely still an entity. …”

That’s a good approach I think. However, I do hope that they’ll record an album as their usual trio after this. While I do love Martie and Emily, I can’t imagine The Dixie Chicks without Natalie’s voice. Natalie is so recognizable on the radio that even a new single wouldn’t need much introduction – you’d just know it was them.

(I’ll be taking over for Heather while she takes a much-deserved break for the next week. Feel free to leave me a comment or contact me at sherry.osborne@b5media.com at any time!)

(source)