First of many?

Whether you agree with them or not, you have to give the Dixie Chicks a ton of credit for speaking their minds regardless of the potential financial impact. In today's world, way too many musicians are too timid or too controlled by their corporate owners to take a stand.

Well said, Eric.

Go, Dixie Chicks!

The Chix are beyond fabulous, not only for their courage and conviction in it, but their real musical and performance talent as well.

Eric is right, but beyond that the modern music industry will never allow another Dylan to will out through their channel. She will have to come from the Internet.

When speaking your mind involves insulting your fan base I think you may have crossed the line between bravery and stupidity.

Since when did simply speaking, regardless of content, deserve props?

They're very talented and when you've got Rick Rubin on the case some measure of success is almost assured. I think that much of the critical praise would be absent however were it not for their anit-Bush and, given the context, anti-American statements.

I didn't know much about the Dixie Chicks but liked their music before their controversial comments were made. Afterward I respected them not only for their talent but also for their backbone in standing up to the country music establishment in the face of vicious character attacks from those friendly folks.

So, character attacks are brave? Why were the same people who have put the twits up on a pedestal not doing the same for the swift boat vets for truth? What was brave about attacking Toby Keith's song writing ability when they twits themselves don't write their own songs? How many times have they done something truly brave such as perform for the troops in Afghanistan or Iraq?

They aren't brave, they are stupid.

Perhaps they did lose some fans, but I'm sure they gained a whole lot of others, including me.

I like music that isn't always just about "Oooh, love love love" or "Aaah, I lost love love love". Music like U2 etc.

Nice change, nice voices, so I'm cool the the chicks.