Did the Dixie Chicks get awards for their music or their politics?

Question

I have the new Dixie Chicks album, and while it's OK, it's not nearly as good as some of the other nominated albums.

I don't believe conspiracy theories, so I'm trying to keep an open mind here, but it seems to me they were awarded Grammys just for being policital -- which is really offensive considering the other artists who worked so hard to put together better albums and kept their politics to themselves. I'm open to ideas, though.

Thoughts?

Answer 1

Of course The Dixie Chicks' awards were political; Album, Record and Song of the year? - I can't find one person who owns or knows a song off of it, but they won over the more conservative country artists.

The entertainment industry is left-wing liberal to its core and will reward those who speak out in support of their views. George Clooney won his Oscar after spending most of that year giving his liberal political views, as did Sean Penn before him. Michael Moore won an Oscar for his anti-Bush doc, The Chicks won after Bush-bashing and now Al Gore will most likely win his Oscar for his global warming saga, which liberals love.

Award shows no long award the best talent or performance; It's all political and cronyism. They award the loudest mouth that supports their liberal views. The Grammys were disgusting, and if I were a nominated music artist that lost to The Chicks - I'd be pissed.

Answer 2

They weren't snubbed. There were just better performers and albums this year. Don't read any more into it. "Taking the Long Way" is a good, but not great, album. Diamond Rio, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Brooks & Dunn, Lonestar and Rascal Flatts all had better albums and songs this year. Of course, the ACM has also "snubbed" The Bellamy Brothers, Shania Twain (until 2000), and Conway Twitty (solo). The Dixie Chicks already have 10 CMA awards and are the first country-rooted act in Grammy history to receive three Album of the Year nominations. At the 49th Grammy Awards Show in 2007, they won all five categories for which they were nominated, including the coveted Song, Record, and Album of the Year. I'm sure they're not losing any sleep over the CMA awards. I am obviously in the minority. I listen to music because I like it, not because I care about the political views of the performers. I like Charlie Daniels music, too. I don't care that he is a rabid Bush supporter. I don't understand how people can still be so enraged about a comment made 4 years ago by an entertainer about a President, yet ignore a comment made 4 days ago by an entertainer about a former Senator. The hypocracy is laughable...

Answer 3

They received their awards because of the hits they took for their political statements. Partly an attempt to revive their careers. You are right, there were artists that produced better quality material that were overlooked. Nothing we can really do about it, no system is perfect and we do not have any control over the Grammy system. It is sad for the artists that worked so hard to create good work.

Answer 4

I have always enjoyed the music, of the Dixie Chicks. Their political views, were also, my views. You don't send people over to a foreign country to fight and die, and have the lowest approval rating, of any American president, in history. The people, including me, that bought millions, of their latest album, must like their music, or wouldn't have spent the money.

Answer 5

I'd say politics, their profile grew in Hollywood after their 'anti-bush remarks' upset the Nashville scene. Heck, they even made a documentary about it just when public opinion against the war in Iraq was increasing by the day.

I agree with you when you say some of their previous albums were 10x better.

Answer 6

You took the words right out of my mouth. I feel that artists have a right to put their views in their music, just as we have a right to have our own opinions as well. But it did REALLY feel like this was a political win, not a musical win.

Answer 7

It's also insulting to those who put together things that were not political because they didn't want to use their fame to voice their opinion. I don't care either way, I don't like their music and I REALLY don't like their politics.

Answer 8

Everyone I have talked to on this subject feels the same way you do, including me. It's all too obvious when you look at some of the other nominees.

Answer 9

Politics and they're not unique to it. Award shows have always been about politics.

Answer 10

i reckon both. i think it went more towards their "comeback" as a whole. And the influence they've had, although the album was very powerful, so yeah.