The Chicks to bring a little giddy-up to the Democratic convention


The Democrats say "yeehaw."
On Thursday night, The Chicks — formerly known as the Dixie Chicks — will perform at the Democratic National Convention in support of presidential nominee Joe Biden. The move is notable because "typically, [country music's] stars stick to performing at the Republican convention," The Washington Post reports.
The Chicks, though, are no strangers to pushing back on the genre's base (which is perceived as largely Southern and conservative). The band famously faced exile after criticizing President George W. Bush following the American invasion of Iraq; this year, they released a powerful new album that may or may not be a rebuke of President Trump.
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Still, as the Post notes, the Chicks aren't the only country legends to "[align] themselves with social activism and liberal views" in recent weeks. Dolly Parton came out as "unequivocal in her support of protesters and the Black Lives Matter movement" while Taylor Swift has become more politically outspoken this election cycle, slamming Trump's "ineffective leadership" and urging fans to "request a ballot early. Vote early."
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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