NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Call it a comeback, a crossover moment, or both. Twenty years ago, released their blockbuster 2006 album 鈥淭aking the Long Way鈥� 鈥� their first full-length after the country music industry turned their backs on them 鈥� and one of the biggest of their career. This fall, the Texas trio of Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire and Natalie Maines will take it on the road, hitting intimate theaters across the U.S.
鈥淭his album in particular is what I think fans would say is the most recognized time in our career,鈥� says Maines.
And so, they expect the shows 鈥� which will feature them performing 鈥淭aking the Long Way鈥� in full as well as additional songs 鈥� will also have them reminiscing about the album and the very unusual time that led up to it, on stage.
The moment that changed everything was back in 2003, when was preparing to invade Iraq. The Chicks were playing a show in London when Maines that they were ashamed that the president was from Texas. The backlash was swift, and the stuff of industry lore. They were booed on awards shows, radio stations pulled their music and fans their CDs. There was an apology, and then in 2006, a rescinding of the apology 鈥� with the best revenge served in the form of a multiplatinum selling single, 鈥淣ot Ready to Make Nice.鈥�
鈥淚t was definitely inspiring for songwriting,鈥� said Maines of that period. 鈥淚t felt like life was happening to us, like we weren’t steering the ship.鈥�
鈥淭hose were hard times for us,鈥� adds Maguire. 鈥淚t’s all the stages of grief 鈥� I think we were kind of in that misunderstood, angry, but also really upset and needing an outlet (stage.)鈥�
And so, they wrote the triumphant 鈥淭aking the Long Way,鈥� produced by after 鈥渓icking our wounds,鈥� as Strayer puts it.
鈥淣ot Ready to Make Nice鈥� came out of that. 鈥淚t was like, 鈥楾his is solely selfish. This is our lives,’鈥� Maines says of the song. And they were shocked when it connected 鈥� but now, they recognize that 鈥減eople have their own 鈥楴ot Ready to Make Nice鈥� story to tell.鈥�
The album went on to earn them five including album, song and record of the year, and marked a transformative moment for the band. And its themes still resonate.
鈥淩e-listening and rehearing those songs, I was surprised how relevant they still seemed and how universal they still seemed even though they were such personal stories,鈥� says Strayer.
Later this year, fans will have the opportunity to relive the 鈥淭aking the Long Way鈥� era for a 16-night run that starts at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on Sept. 30 and ends in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre on Nov. 1 and 2. They’ll also do two nights in Chicago, New York, San Antonio, Seattle and San Francisco. They’ll hit Washington, Nashville, Tennessee, and Austin, Texas, for one night only.
Tickets will go on sale June 4 at 10 a.m. local time on
___
The Chicks’ 鈥楾aking the Long Way鈥� 20th Anniversary Tour Dates
Sept. 30: Detroit 鈥� Fox Theatre
Oct. 3: Chicago 鈥� The Auditorium
Oct. 4: Chicago 鈥� The Auditorium
Oct. 6: Washington 鈥� The Anthem
Oct. 12: New York 鈥� Beacon Theatre
Oct. 13: New York 鈥� Beacon Theatre
Oct. 15: Nashville, Tennessee 鈥� The Truth
Oct. 17: San Antonio 鈥� Majestic Theatre
Oct. 18: San Antonio 鈥� Majestic Theatre
Oct. 20: Austin, Texas 鈥� Bass Concert Hall
Oct. 25: Seattle 鈥� Benaroya Hall
Oct. 26: Seattle 鈥� Benaroya Hall
Oct. 29: San Francisco 鈥� The Masonic
Oct. 30: San Francisco 鈥� The Masonic
Nov. 1: Los Angeles 鈥� Dolby Theatre
Nov. 2: Los Angeles 鈥� Dolby Theatre
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
