Meghan McCain supports a Dixie Chicks comeback after country music controversy: 'It's time to move on'
Meghan McCain might not be ready to forget, but she’s ready to forgive when it comes to the Dixie Chicks.
The country stars made headlines in 2003 after lead singer Natalie Maines publicly denounced the impending war with Iraq during a concert in London. She also said of President George W. Bush, “We're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
The group’s career was sidelined and led many to protest sales of their albums and radio play of their songs.
“I love the Dixie Chicks. I think it’s time to move on,” said McCain on Thursday’s episode of “The View.” Her comments came during a conversation about the group’s recent guest appearance on Taylor Swift’s latest album, “Lover.” Some aren’t happy that Swift chose to work with the group, but McCain says she’s more than fine with it.
“They’re beautiful artists, and I think art is political,” she says. Though she’s glad the group is back in the spotlight, she did make it clear that she thought their 2003 comments weren’t appropriate. “I don’t agree with what they did, but they have more than atoned at this point.”
Fellow panelist Whoopi Goldberg weighed in and said it’s hard to hold the group’s comments against them when President Donald Trump isn’t also held to the same standard. “At this point how can you continue to hold them to a level that the guy who’s supposed to be running the country does not hold himself to?” asked Goldberg.
Not everyone is as thrilled about a Dixie Chicks comeback as McCain, and viewers took to Twitter to express their dismay:
Dixie Chicks went against the USA right after the 9-11 bombings and to dis your country while in another country is un-American and to this day I will not listen to them. Just like the actors now who force their hate upon us, we turn them off as well.
— mary (@dreamingtoo2) September 12, 2019
Nobody cares about @dixiechicks they might have been a one hit wonder 20 years ago, but not so much now.
— sam (@sam49649145) September 12, 2019
Others sided with McCain and Goldberg, saying they’re excited for the group’s return and slammed the country music world for its treatment of the band following the controversy:
I love the @dixiechicks! Always have... I never stopped supporting them. Natalie spoke her truth - at that time. Get Over It! #TheView
— #BrittFit50🏋🏾#BIWOC #Advocacy #Equity #Inclusion (@brijh) September 12, 2019
Noteworthy: *after* their country music shunning, @dixiechicks won ALL 5 of the Grammys they were nominated for in 2007 for Not Ready To Make Nice. Their treatment by country music has been disgraceful. #TheView #DixieChicks
— Ella Pea (@EllaPea1) September 12, 2019
Meghan McCain slams Felicity Huffman and says she deserves jail time:
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