Of all musical genres, country music is perhaps the one most influenced by a male presence. Country music is often associated with the classic cowboy playing guitar around a campfire or riding a horse with a guitar strapped to his back. Even country music politics leans toward a male-dominated, Republican, conservative, and pro-war position (Spong 184). Stereotypical women in country music “behave” and passively follow the same values ​​as men. Therefore, in 2003, when the Dixie Chicks, an all-female country music group, became the best-selling girl group of all time, it was quite an achievement. Their success began in 1997 with an image that reflected their versatility. Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, who are sisters, played fiddle and banjo and provided backing vocals for lead singer Natalie Maines, who had a strong, clear voice. Maines stood out from the rest with his powerful stage presence. They wore feminine outfits, infused with bling and not country. They were pretty to look at and a little goofy in their behavior (129). The kind of young women fans could imagine having fun with, but also the kind young women could identify with through their music. Songs like “Goodbye Earl” describe a strong woman who becomes fed up with her abusive husband and eventually kills him. However, the band delivered it in a style that was far from morose. This sent a clear message of girl power to many women (129). Numerous accolades followed from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association (CMA), including Entertainer of the Year, Best Vocal Group, and Album of the Year (Towner 293) . In the first five years of their career, they sold 28 million copies of the three records...... middle of paper ......klisted in the country music world for daring to make a statement anti-war and questioning the president's decision-making. The reaction to singer Maines' statement exposed a misogynistic mentality that was somewhat dormant in country music culture. The swift and devastating reaction to this statement exposed the dire consequences of disregarding country music's stereotypes of femininity. Verbal insults and death threats, destruction of CDs and removal of their music from the airwaves of country stations. However, the Dixie Chicks didn't back down. They remained true to their beliefs. Their song “Not Ready to Make Nice” made a clear statement. They had no regrets. The Dixie Chicks still remain a symbol of strong women in music and brought to the forefront the issue of the status of women in the United States..