The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks) dropped a cultural reckoning with Taking the Long Way. It’s a record that bridged country music with personal and political defiance, wrapped in Grammy-winning songwriting and raw honesty. Here are five lesser-known facts that prove just how daring and masterfully crafted this album really was.
1. “Not Ready to Make Nice” Was Almost Too Personal to Write
Writing the band’s most iconic post-controversy anthem took days of talking and therapy-level processing before a single lyric was written. The stakes were sky-high. Emily Robison called it “the song we had to get right.” Natalie Maines refused to sugarcoat it—when co-writer Dan Wilson offered a more conciliatory lyric, she replied, “Nope, I can’t say that.” This wasn’t a political statement dressed up in metaphor. It was a manifesto from three women who were tired of being told to shut up and sing.
2. “I Hope” Was First Played on a Hurricane Katrina Telethon
Before it became the emotional closer on Taking the Long Way, “I Hope” debuted on Shelter from the Storm, the televised benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina. Co-written with Keb’ Mo’ (Kevin Moore), the song was recorded and released as a charity single months ahead of the album. The song is a plea for decency, hope, and leadership. And if that’s not enough, it features a stunning guitar solo by none other than John Mayer.
3. The Album Was Recorded With a Sound Wallop from Sheryl Crow and Linda Perry
Beyond the trio’s already solid writing, Taking the Long Way quietly features co-writes with two titans of songwriting: Sheryl Crow and Linda Perry. “Favorite Year” has Crow’s melodic fingerprints all over it, while Perry co-wrote the emotionally gutted “Voice Inside My Head.” These collaborations helped elevate the record beyond country radio’s comfort zone, leaning into lush arrangements and storytelling that crossed genre lines without apology.
4. “Lullaby” Found a Second Life on Network TV
Before streaming playlists ruled the world, landing your song on a primetime drama meant real visibility. The gentle, haunting “Lullaby” appeared on the season finale of Medium the night Taking the Long Way dropped. It was a bold move: launching an album born from outrage with a song that radiated tenderness. It reminded everyone that The Chicks were more than defiant—they were dynamic.
5. The Album’s Tour Had More Canada Than Nashville
In the U.S., country radio stations had all but blacklisted the band. So The Chicks took Taking the Long Way north. Their Accidents & Accusations Tour included a record-breaking number of Canadian stops. And you know what? The fans showed up. In droves. It was a moment that flipped the script on the idea that the band had been “canceled.” Turns out, when you bet on truth and talent, you might lose a chart position—but you gain a legacy.
If country music had a Hall of Courage, Taking the Long Way would be bronzed in it. The Chicks survived the backlash and made the most defiant, graceful, and decorated comeback in country music history. And they did it all on their own terms. That’s the kind of outlaw energy even Willie would tip his hat to.
