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."

[annyokie]

Hmm, Natalie be showin" her *ss again.

[CobaltBlue]

>>"She attacked me about nine months ago over the 'Angry American' song," Keith said.<<

Maines doesn't believe in Keith's First Amendment rights? Say it ain't so! -g-

[Paul Atreides]

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)."

Now, I just wonder what little Miss Bigmouth found so objectionable about the song.

[Clara Lou]

Stuff comes out of her blowhole daily.
Natalie is a no-class woman-- the FUTK incident, alone, is proof of this. She's also severely lacking in common sense and intelligence. "Blowhole" is the perfect word. I agree with TK-- I feel sorry for the other ladies in the group. Their politics may not agree with mine, but they manage to have their own politics in a dignified manner.

[Mister Baredog]

"She's still not done. If y'all think she's done, you're crazy. Stuff comes out of her blowhole daily."

I would destroy all my Dixie Chicks stuff but I don't have any. It was fun to see these IDIOTS get BOOED at the CM awards, I saw it on the news.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

Time to revive celebrity death match?

[VOA]

Natalie is a no-class woman-- the FUTK incident, alone, is proof of this.

Looks like Ms. Maines is determined to live out her life in her own version of "Unforgiven".

Amazing how Providence lets us see such educational negative role-models from time to time.

[linn37]

dumb broads bump

[Tigercap]

Where I live (West Michigan) there are two prominent Country stations. One will not/does not play Chicks - the other does. I destroyed my DC cd and change the station when they come on the one station - not a big statement, just can't stomach them invading 3 minutes of my day. Do I have that right????!

[bereanway]

Its amazing to me how Maines is so out of touch with her fan base. She has to be unbelievably spiteful to allow her ego to trump any vestige of common sense. She has and continues to alienate their fan base in stupefying fashion. Keith is right when he says she isn't done, there is something about her that just won't allow her to keep her yap shut.

[JimVT]

I guess the dumb broad can't spell either or does she think y-o-u begins with a U?

[homeschool mama]

It's amazing to know this woman has a child. By her actions, what in God's name is she teaching this little one?

[South40]

I feel sorry for the other ladies in the group. Their politics may not agree with mine, but they manage to have their own politics in a dignified manner.

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.

[bereanway]

Whatever she's teaching it ain't good. Several months ago before this flap really got going I heard some quotes from her on a local country station. She was talking about taking her little boy (?) on tour. She said she didn't want to shelter him as some of the "obnoxious do-gooders" would be wont to do. That says a lot about her worldview. Also, imagine her referring to anybody as obnoxious.

[cake_crumb]

Democrats =
Progressively
Devolving
Party

[jt8d]

Dignified?

How are any of these "ladies" worthy of that description? Did they not appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine fully nude? There is nothing dignified about the Dixie Whores.

[WarrenGamaliel]

Toby Keith is all hat and no Merle Haggard.

[jt8d]

"...there is something about her that just won't allow her to keep her yap shut."

That something is called self-rightious liberalism.

[Reagan Man]

What's really sad about all this, is the free publicity that the Dipsie Chicks are getting. There are plenty of braindead teenagers out there who are ready, willing and able to stand side by side with Maines in trashing the good old USA. But we all should remember, an act of free speech doesn't mean, what's being said is correct or right for that matter.