Laura Lynch, the founding upright bass player for the country music band the Dixie Chicks, died Friday (December 22, 2023), from injuries sustained in a head-on car collision near El Paso, Tex. She was 65. Lynch founded the group—since renamed The Chicks—in 1989 in Dallas, Tex., with guitarist Robin Lynn Macy and sisters Martie and Emily Erwin.
Lynch’s vehicle was struck head-on by another driver who attempted to pass a vehicle on a two-way road. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
After Macy departed the group in 1992, Lynch took over lead vocalist duties for the group known then as the Dixie Chicks Cowgirl Band. In 1997, when the band signed with Monument Records, Lynch was replaced by Natalie Maines and a year later, the group earned breakthrough success with the album, Wide Open Spaces.
That album yielded five top 10 country singles including three #1s. All five of the singles charted on the Hot 100 and though none reached higher than #34, the group became a significant cultural phenomenon. Wide Open Spaces ruled the country chart and got as high as #4 on the overall album chart. It ultimately was certified 13x Platinum. The follow-up, 1999’s Fly, earned eight country hits with the humorous “Goodbye Earl” also reaching #19 on the Hot 100. Fly was certified 11x Platinum.
The reformed Chicks, once again consisting of Maines, and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer, paid tribute to Lynch on their Facebook page.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together. Laura was a bright light…her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band. Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West.
“Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this sad time.”
Watch the Dixie Chicks perform in their early days with Laura Lynch on lead vocals
In 2003, the group courted significant controversy when Maines told a London concert audience nine days before the U.S.’s military involvement in Iraq that, “Just so you know… we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.” She was referring to President George W. Bush. In the years after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, many country stars had released songs with a patriotic sentiment.
There was significant backlash for the group, who at the time, were still among the most popular country acts. Radio stations stopped playing their records, the members received death threats and Lipton canceled its sponsorship of their tour. Shortly after her initial comments, Maines issued an apology for her “disrespectful” remarks, adding “I love my country. I am a proud American.” Three years later, she rescinded the apology. The events were documented in a 2006 film, Shut Up and Sing.
In an interview the same year as Maines’ original statement, Lynch said of the controversy begun by her former bandmates, “I love our president. I really do. I think the world of him. I really revere our President Bush, and I revere the highest office in our country to the utmost. And that’s who I am.”
Related: Musicians we lost in 2023
2 Comments
So sorry. Such a senseless death.
What a beautiful voice she had!