DNC 2024: The Chicks Take Center Stage at the Democratic National Convention

The Chicks: From Controversy to Cultural Icons

Previously called The Dixie Chicks, the Chicks sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Once among the most well-known names in country music, the band’s breakthrough albums, 1998’s Wide Open Spaces and 1999’s Fly both attained the coveted diamond designation, indicating sales of more than 10 million copies apiece.

Then, in 2003, during the run-up to the U.S. war with Iraq, vocalist Natalie Maines informed a London audience that the band disagreed with both the war and then-President George W. Bush.

“We do not want this war, this violence,” Maines stated during a Chicks performance, adding, “and we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.”

Supported by many of the nation’s radio stations whose playlists the group had formerly controlled, the moment set off a reaction against The Chicks in the U.S.

At the virtual Democratic National Convention in 2020, they sang “The Star-Spangled Banner”.

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Once more, their performance had great cultural weight: conservative TikHub figures have appropriated “Not Ready to Make Nice” to show their disapproval of Kamala Harris’ campaign in recent weeks.

Pink’s Powerful Performance

Pink went on stage for a passionate, almost note-perfect performance of her 2017 protest hymn “What About Us.” Joined by a guitarist and four backup vocalists, including her 13-year-old daughter Willow Sage Hart, Pink kept lyrically on-message as the ensemble sang the chorus of the song, “What about us? / What about all the times you said you had the answers?” — in harmony.

The Drumline Pack

The Pack Drumline from Chicago played with a drummer even playing upside down.

Not Beyoncé or Taylor Swift, though

Rumors of well-known, surprise musical guests floated about as Wednesday’s performances featured Stevie Wonder and John Legend, thereby driving sky-high fan expectations into the last night of the DNC.

The Chicks and Pink carried a lot of personal star power. Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, however, were not linked as a wide swath of frantic social-media conjecture expected but could never exactly confirm.

Rather, the unique, formerly undisclosed visitor was none at all. Vice President Harris, the evening’s headline, had the limelight to herself, maybe the whole goal all along.