Maines Still Not in Fashion With Keith

CMT.com ^ | 5-23-03 | Calvin Gilbert

[Paul Atreides]

The Academy of Country Music Awards took place in Las Vegas, but the biggest fashion statement of the night was made 1,500 miles away. And given the way things have been going for the past three months, maybe it's not so surprising that the statement was made by Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks.

Maines sported a shirt emblazoned with the letters "F.U.T.K." while the trio performed "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" via satellite from a concert in Austin, Texas. The special segment was part of the ACM Awards show televised live from Las Vegas. Later in the show, Vince Gill opened the envelope to learn that Toby Keith had been named entertainer of the year and said, "Well, I think his name was on somebody's shirt tonight."

Maines' shirt became a hot topic on radio talk shows and Internet message boards, thanks to previous comments she has made about Keith and President George W. Bush. After experiencing a backlash from fans and radio over a comment she made about Bush during a London concert in March, Maines wore a shirt carrying the message "Dare to Be Free" when the U.S. leg of the Dixie Chicks world tour kicked off earlier this month in Greenville, S.C.

When asked if Maines intends to explain what the letters "F.U.T.K." meant, a publicist at Front Page Publicity -- the firm responsible for the Dixie Chicks' media relations -- told CMT.com Friday (May 23), "I don't know."

Assuming that the last two letters of the acronym refer to Keith, it's easy to speculate the meaning of the first two. And if that's the case, then Maines' shirt appears to be another jab in a dialog that began almost a year ago when she criticized Keith's flag-waving song, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)." On the other hand, Chicks supporters on Nashville's Music Row have offered a kinder, tongue-in-cheek definition of "F.U.T.K." -- "Friends United in Truth and Kindness."

Following Wednesday's (May 21) ACM Awards, Keith traveled to Los Angeles for a Thursday appearance on the ABC late night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live. Keith said he doesn't know what the letters on Maines' shirt meant. "I have no idea," he said. "It happened during the [ACM] show when I was already gone."

With several members of Kimmel's audience wearing shirts with the letters "F.U.D.C.," Keith explained the history of what has become a public feud.

"She attacked me about nine months ago over the 'Angry American' song," Keith said. "I took the high road for a little bit and then she didn't think that she got the fight, I think, that she wanted. So then she attacked our president on foreign soil and got the fight she wanted, I guess." Keith added, "She's still not done. If y'all think she's done, you're crazy. Stuff comes out of her blowhole daily."

Keith may disagree with Maines' comments, but he likes their music. However, he also expressed concern for the other members of the Dixie Chicks -- Martie Maguire and Emily Robison.

"They make great music," he noted. "I think it's too bad for the other two that … it has to be what it is, because they do make great music."

[CobaltBlue]

I have no idea what Maines finds offensive about Keith's "Angry American." Is it the lyrics, or is it that she is jealous of his success, or does she worry that Europeans and anti-war types will lump her in with him because she is classified as country, as he is?

To me, Keith is solidly in the country tradition that includes "Okie from Muskogee."

I admit that I don't listen to country music all that much so mostly know the Dixie Chicks from crossover, and am not impressed by the only thing of theirs I do know, which is "Landslide."

I have been a diehard Fleetwood Mac fan since 1970, and to me, "Landslide" will always be a Fleetwood Mac song.

[Dane]

Why the pity? In a television interview the other two proved that they stand squarly behind the words of Natalie Mange. I pitied them too, before I heard that. After that point, they ALL deserve what they get

I agree, they all agreed to do the semi-nude Entertainment Weekly magazine cover, which basically cried out, we(dixie chicks) are victims of the Hillary contrived "vast right wing conspiracy".

Sheesh that cover was obviously modern Hollywood and Hillary think.

You are correct South40, the other members of the dixie chicks are equally culpable.

[green team 1999]

bump

[freedumb2003]

>>and change the station when they come on the one station ... Do I have that right????!<<

I'm sorry, but I am from the liberal Free Speech Police. According to the only possible interpretation of the 1st amendment, you do not have the right to change the station. Upon hearing songs from groups that you do not like but are against conservativesm you are required by law to not only keep your radio on that station, but you must turn up the volume and make a purchase from the next sponsor that airs a commercial on that station.

We will be introducing a bill in congress next week to compell electronics manufacturers to create radios that will enforce this requirement, and of course by 2006 it will be in all vehicle radios sold in the US (2004 for California).

Please do not confuse your rights with our desires again.

[Mike-o-Matic]

   Time to revive celebrity death match?

Man, do I ever miss that show!!

[Common Tator]

Toby Keith is all hat and no Merle Haggard

He would have to do drugs, excessive booze, and prison time to be a Merle Haggard.

[Common Tator]

Toby Keith is all hat and no Merle Haggard

He would have to do drugs, excessive booze, and prison time to be a Merle Haggard.

[Incredulous]

In a frequently aired interview with Dan Rather, one of the sisters (I do not know which is which) was quite embarrassed when Dan reminded her that the DC's played at a GW Bush function in Texas several years ago. She cringed and pointed out that they played any event they could back then. The are 3 birds of a feather.

[FITZ]

Has Merle Haggard written any hits lately? Or any songs at all? Wasn't the last one Okie from Muskogee quite some time back? He WAS good but it was a long time ago.

[Dane]

In a frequently aired interview with Dan Rather, one of the sisters (I do not know which is which) was quite embarrassed when Dan reminded her that the DC's played at a GW Bush function in Texas several years ago. She cringed and pointed out that they played any event they could back then. The are 3 birds of a feather

I agree.

JMO, but you are seeing the influence of Hollywood liberalism on the dixie chicks.

They as a trio decided to go down the liberal Barbara Streisand road and they as country music artists are whining about the road they took, which is a dead end, IMO.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

: )

[cake_crumb]

"Did they not appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine fully nude?"

Their HEADS did...at least one of the nude bodies (Maines') was a body double. Probably two, according to some FReeper men, who say one of the Chicks' legs in the pic weren't actually her legs.

[GraniteStateConservative]

"Don't get me started," Maines told the Los Angeles Daily News. "I hate it. It's ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant. It targets an entire culture - and not just the bad people who did bad things. You've got to have some tact. Anybody can write, 'We'll put a boot in your ass.' But a lot of people agree with it. The kinds of songs I prefer on the subject are like Bruce Springsteen's new songs."

[Faith]

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. (Proverbs 11: 22)

[Yudan]

You really do have to wonder, how many of our politicians - let alone the collective brain fart that is Hollyweird - actually can recite the First Amendment.

When I hear a brainiac like The Whale Natalie Maines going on about First Amendment rights - I wonder, "Where's the violation?"

I'm reminded of the line unttered by Wilford Brimley in the 1981 film "Absence of Malice":

“That’s BULL$H!T, Counselor. The First Amendment don’t SAY that, the privilege DON’T EXIST!”

Verbatim, the First Amandment of the Constitution says:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

There is NO RIGHT to FREE SPEECH in the First Amendment as I read it, folks. It's an abridgement on the powers of Congress/The Government - as is most of the Constitution.

If you wish for that abridgement to extend logically to be an absolute right of free speech, so be it. But it most certainly does not give one the right to an audience - or to be liked universally, let alone have a right to a PAYING audience that allows her the accumulation of personal wealth. If The Whale Natalie Maines has the right to speak her mind - then I certainly have the right to speak mine in disagreement. How Orwellian for her to recoil so dramatically in the face of adverse public opinion.

If someone threatened her with physical violence, the story would be dramatically different.

[homeschool mama]

I wonder if Natalie Mains and Katie Couric are friends..they both seem hateful towards conservatives and those who love this dear country and those who have fough/continue to fight, to keep it free and safe.

[homeschool mama]

btw, i like your screen name. :O)

[Timesink]

"If y'all think she's done, you're crazy. Stuff comes out of her blowhole daily."

Yeah, the wrong end. She probably needs a colonoscopy to eat.

[Way2Serious]

She has and continues to alienate their fan base in stupefying fashion.

The type of pettiness Maines displays isn't capable of limiting itself to the public forum. Watch this group self destruct if it doesn't find a way to muzzle her or evict her.

[Timesink]

"They make great music," he noted. "I think it's too bad for the other two that ? it has to be what it is, because they do make great music."

The other two own the group. Fatalie is just an employee. So as far as I'm concerned, the other two are just as guilty by association. Aiding and abetting.