Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

The Dixie Chicks Stood Their Ground in “Not Ready To Make Nice”

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.
The Dixie Chicks may have been under the radar for over a decade, but no one has forgotten about them. And of course, no fan could ever forget the band’s biggest pop hit in the US to date, “Not Ready To Make Nice.” Released in 2006 off the band’s studio album, Taking the Long Way, “Not Ready To Make Nice” was Dixie Chicks‘ only song to be certified Double Platinum. Though it only peaked at No. 36 on US Hot Country Songs, it was a crossover success as it reached No. 4 on US Billboard Hot 100.

RELATED: Why do People Hate the Dixie Chicks? Will they ever Return to Country Music?

The song also won big during the 2007 Grammy Awards, bringing home Song of the Year, including Record of the Year, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

The Controversial Story Behind The Song 

Written by the Dixie Chicks’ band members and Dan Wilson of the group Semisonic, “Not Ready To Make Nice” finds Natalie Maines, Emily Robison, and Martie Maguire standing up for themselves and refusing to back down from their statements. This was after Maines made a critical comment about American President George W. Bush in 2003 during a performance in a concert in London, United Kingdom. In connection with the impending invasion of Iraq, lead vocalist Maines said, “…we don’t want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”

RELATED: A Controversy That Changed Dixie Chicks Careers 17 Years Ago

Controversy has since erupted after such a remark, and the Dixie Chicks were dropped from playlists at several radio stations. They were then subjected to attacks on their character, even death threats. Taking the Long Way was the band’s first studio album released following the controversy. The band’s reaction then became a central theme of some of the songs in the album. Most notable among them is “Not Ready to Make Nice.” “I’m not ready to make nice. I’m not ready to back down. I’m still mad as hell, and I don’t have time to go ’round and ’round and’ round. It’s too late to make it right. I probably wouldn’t if I could. ‘Cause I’m mad as hell. Can’t bring myself to do what it is. You think I should,” the song goes. Wilson had to drive from Los Angeles to Santa Monica to make this collaboration possible. While on his way, he was thinking up an idea for the song called “Undivided,” which would lead the trio singing about the things that could perhaps unite Americans. When Wilson finally shared his idea during the first songwriting session, Maines asked, “Does that mean that in the song, we would have to forgive all the people that screwed us?” – to which Wilson replied, “For the song, maybe,”  He got a big “nope” from Maines. “We tried to write about the incident a few times, but you get nervous that you’re being too preachy or too victimized or too nonchalant,” Maines recalled. “Dan came in with an idea that was some kind of concession, more ‘can’t we all just get along?’ and I said, nope, I can’t say that, can’t do it. And we talked about it, and he said, what about ‘I’m not ready to make nice?'” Maines added, “This album was therapy. To write these songs allowed me to find peace with everything and move on.” “The stakes were definitely higher on that song. We knew it was special because it was so autobiographical, and we had to get it right. We’ve all gone through so many emotions about the incident. And once we had this song done, it freed us up to do the rest of the album without that burden,” Robison also said. Now that more than a decade has passed and the dust has finally settled, perhaps the Dixie Chicks will be able to take back their spot in country music. You can watch their performance of “Not Ready To Make Nice.”

Latest Stories

Allie Colleen performs on stage with a big smile and acoustic guitar, showing confidence and independence as she builds her music career on her own terms—far from her father Garth Brooks’ shadow.

Garth Brooks’ Daughter Says She Doesn’t Represent Him and Wants No Part of His Shadow

In a world where name-dropping can open every door in Nashville, Allie Colleen is out here trying to slam it shut. The 28-year-old country artist and youngest daughter of Garth ...

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert Moved On, But Did They Ever Make Amends?

Country music fans watched their fairytale unfold like a damn movie until the credits rolled too soon, and the lights came up on something way messier. Blake Shelton and Miranda ...

Gwen Stefani smiles at Blake Shelton on the red carpet of the Academy of Country Music Awards—despite new song lyrics fueling speculation about trouble in their marriage.

Gwen Stefani’s New Song Is Stirring Talk of Marriage Trouble With Blake Shelton and It’s Not Just the Lyrics

It doesn’t take much to set the rumor mill spinning, but Gwen Stefani just handed it a full tank of gas and a match. Her new single “Still Gonna Love ...

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban smile on the red carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, showing off their unshakable bond—even if a professional collaboration isn’t on the table.

Nicole Kidman Reveals Disappointing News About Keith Urban and Why They Won’t Work Together

Hollywood’s favorite Aussie power couple just crushed a longtime fan dream with one word. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban may have the kind of private fairy tale that gives tabloid ...

Cody Johnson performs at an outdoor concert in front of an American flag, shown here during a previous show, before he paused his Tailgate N Tallboys set to address anti-Trump protests and lead the crowd in a "God Bless America" sing-along.

Cody Johnson Blasts Anti-Trump Protests and His Crowd Responds With a “God Bless America” Sing-Along

Cody Johnson doesn’t tiptoe. He stomps. During his June 14 stop at the Tailgate N Tallboys festival in Bloomington, Illinois, CoJo grabbed the mic, hit pause on the hits, and ...

HARDY performing live onstage in the U.S., shown here during a past show, ahead of canceling the European leg of his Jim Bob World Tour to prioritize family and crew.

HARDY Cancels European Leg of Jim Bob World Tour Ahead of First-Ever Headlining Dates

The long-awaited European run for HARDY’s Jim Bob World Tour just hit the brakes, and fans across the pond are understandably bummed. On the morning of June 16, HARDY dropped ...

Billy Ray Cyrus stands on the red carpet in a black leather jacket and sunglasses, unintentionally becoming the center of family drama after Trace Cyrus called him out online.

Trace Cyrus Blasts Billy Ray for Skipping Grandma’s Funeral to Chase Fame and It’s About as Ugly as It Gets

When your son calls you “the l𝐚mest man to ever walk planet earth,” it’s safe to say things have gone past the point of no return. Trace Cyrus is not ...

Holly Dunn performs passionately under soft stage lights with her guitar in hand, capturing the emotion behind her heartfelt classic “Daddy’s Hands.”

Holly Dunn Wrote “Daddy’s Hands” for Her Dad and Somehow Spoke for an Entire Generation

This is the kind of song that makes grown men stare out the truck window in silence and pretend it’s just the pollen getting to them. When Holly Dunn wrote ...

Oliver Anthony belts out raw heartbreak in a dimly lit studio session, his face scrunched in pain, strumming a resonator guitar with the kind of fury only divorce can fuel.

Oliver Anthony Poured His Divorce Hell Into “Scornful Woman” and It’s Flat-Out Devastating

You can smell the smoke coming off this one before the first note even hits. Oliver Anthony isn’t one for PR gloss or neatly packaged pain. He’s raw, gravel-throated, and ...

Brad Paisley strums his guitar under a spotlight—looking like he’s about to sing the song that breaks every stepdad’s heart wide open. Not the original performance, but you can feel the same lump in your throat.

Brad Paisley’s “He Didn’t Have to Be” Is the Ultimate Tribute to Men Who Chose to Be Dad

It’s the kind of song that sneaks up on you, then hits like a freight train made of soft memories and old regrets. Before Brad Paisley was co-hosting the CMAs ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.