The Dixie Chicks claim that they received personal threats following singer Natalie Maines' controversial comments about President George W. Bush earlier this year. Having returned from a European tour, the trio will make its first public comments on the incident, and on Maines' subsequent apology, in an interview with Diane Sawyer that will air on Primetime Thursday on ABC tonight.

During a London concert last month, Maines told an audience "we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." She quickly issued an apology, but radio stations began to pull the Chicks' songs from rotation, and sales of the band's most recent album, Home began to slip.

"We're dealing with bigger issues than record sales," Emily Robison, whose property has been vandalized, said. "I'm concerned about my safety. I'm concerned about the safety of my family." Robison also admitted that, because of death threats, the Chicks will be forced to use metal detectors at its concerts this year; the band's tour kicks off next week in South Carolina.

Added her sister, Martie Maguire, who likened the most severe backlash to book burnings, "I think it's rational and totally acceptable for people to write a letter. We know that some of our fans were shocked and upset, and we are compassionate to that. My problem is when does it cross the line? When is trashing Emily's property OK? When is writing a threatening letter OK?"

Maines admitted that she regretted that her comment was disrespectful, but added, "Am I sorry that I asked questions and that I don't just follow? No."

As for issues of patriotism, the group was clear, with Robison mentioning that she and Maguire have family in the military. "We support the troops 100 percent," Maines said. "There is not a correlation between not wanting a war and not supporting the troops who are doing their job."

And despite the apology, Maines remained firm that the group isn't seeking forgiveness from anyone. "Accept the apology that was made," she said. "But don't forgive us for who we are."

ANDREW DANSBY
(April 24, 2003)