Dixie Chicks Lead Singer Insults Jason Aldean

Photo Credit: http://www.peoplequiz.com

The Dixie Chicks lead singer, Natalie Maines, negatively commented on country star Jason Aldean’s Grammy performance this weekend, upsetting fans.

                This is not the first time Maines stirred up negative responses with her fans.  This is beginning to look like a reoccurring offense with Maines.

                During Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson’s performance of their hit single “Don’t You Wanna Stay?” Aldean’s mic went out. Maines posted her thoughts on her Twitter soon after.

“Well the good thing about his mic going out is suddenly the song got a lot more in tune,” tweeted Maines.

Maines later said on her Twitter that she did not know who the guy singing was but to her, he was not in tune.

“By ‘he’ I mean whoever the guy was singing with Kelly Clarkson,” posted Maines.

Not long after Maines’ post, her Twitter feed filled up with fans displeased with Maines’ comments.

                In 2011, Aldean won eight awards including single of the year, album of the year and best music video for group collaboration for the single “Don’t You Wanna Stay” which Aldean performed with Clarkson at the Grammys.

Considering Maines has not been in the country scene for about six years now, perhaps she should keep her thoughts to herself when she doesn’t even know who she is judging.

                In 2002, Maines made a verbal attack at fellow country star, Toby Keith.

Keith released the hit song “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue” that climbed the top of the music charts. 

Maines publically bashed the single stating, "I hate it. It's ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant.” Later saying that anybody can write the words “We’ll put a boot in your ass.”

It wasn’t long before Keith fought back stating, “I'll bury her, she has never written anything that has been a hit and that's what I do-I write songs.”

A few months after the attacks, Keith ended the verbal war after sharing that one of his best friends recently lost his two-year-old daughter to cancer.

 He explained that he saw a photo of himself and Maines together that said “fight to the death.”

“It seemed so insignificant,” said Keith. “Enough is enough.”

                But of course it was all but a year later when Maines opened her mouth again.

In 2003, at the Dixie Chicks’ London show, Maines made a comment that started a national uproar.

                “We’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas,” said Maines referring to then President George W. Bush Jr., the night before the invasion of Iraq.

Country radio stations boycotted Dixie Chicks songs, protests arose, fans destroyed CDs and Maines received death threats.

However, Maines and The Dixie Chicks received some support from fans after their comment.

Fans created petitions stating that Maines and the Chicks gave a voice to other Americans whom were against the war, according to petition online website.

The petition received 30,560 signatures.

Several weeks after her comment Maines apologized to Bush.

Years later, in 2006, The Dixie Chicks released an album containing the song “Not Ready to Make Nice” that focused on the verbal controversy and repercussions of her statement.

Maines does have the freedom to speak her opinion just like everybody else. Maines is also not the first musical artist to state her opinion.

 Why is it that other artists do not receive as much backlash as Maines? Perhaps it is because other artists state their opinions with more class and structure instead of a straight up dig or attack at another person.

For example in 2006 singer-song writer Pink, released a song titled, “Dear Mr. President.” This song addressed Pink’s questions and comments to and about then President George W. Bush Jr. Pink called the song an “open letter” to the president.

Pink said that she would not release the song as a single because the song had too much meaning and did not want it to be perceived as a “publicity stunt.”

This song referred to large points like gay marriage, war and the homeless. Pink even makes a reference to Bush’s previous alcohol and drug use.

Pink had her own opinions and thoughts about the president and his decisions. However, she carried herself with class and still got her points across.  Pink presented her thoughts in an organized and well thought manner.

It seems that Maines simply blurts out her opinions before fully thinking before she speaks.