THE DIXIE CHICKS SING OUT AT MOVIE PREMIERE

(VIDEO) The Dixie Chicks defend their famous Bush bashing comments at the premiere of their documentary Shut Up & Sing.

Shut Up & Sing, the Barbara Kopple documentary chronicling the Dixie Chicks three-year tour from the United States to London in support of their Taking The Long Way CD in the eye of singer Natalie Maines’ Bush bashing backlash had it’s New York premiere. Natalie recalls what it is she said that sent tremors throughout right wing America.

The question often asked is whether artists should be allowed to use their celebrity to voice their politics. Barbra Streisand is basking in her anti-Bush tirades at her concerts and believes artists exist to disturb. Dixie Chick Marty Maguire weighs in on Babs philosophy.

“The real statement that I made which I didn’t even remember until I saw the film was ‘just so you know we’re on the good side of y’all. We don’t want this war or this violence. And we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.’ But what everyone thinks I said is, ‘just so you know we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.’”

Shut Up & Sing shows how the now famous anti-Bush comment got the Chicks banned from the radio, protests were carried out destroying their CDs in mass quantities, even death threats were issued. Rather than living in fear for themselves and their families, they persevered. Natalie who has a son with Heroes star Adrian Pasdar feared more for humanity.

“I think a lot of people in the public eye feel afraid to be honest all the times. They stick you in media training from the time you get signed to a record label. We always kind of bucked that system a little bit and thought our fans would relate to us better if we were honest. And it got us in a lot of trouble but we still believe those people do want us to be who we are. Freedom of speech is for everybody, not just for people who agree.”

In spite of the negativity surrounding the Dixie Chicks while they were singing out their beliefs, the documentary gives a positive backstage outlook from songwriting in the studio to performing in the arenas for sold-out crowds who didn’t boo them off the stage. Shut Up & Sing opens Friday in theaters.rn

“It’s hard for me to remember if I felt afraid. At that stage the battle was about so much more of just free speech. If anything I just really questioned what I brought my son into as far as humanity. I know that sounds dramatic but it really was like that. We were untouchable because we questioned the president and that’s just crazy in 2003. It’s scary.”