WATCH: The Chicks Deliver Fiery Performance of ‘Not Ready To Make Nice’ on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’
The performance comes as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed album ‘Taking the Long Way.’
The Chicks; Photo by Disney/Randy Holmes
The Chicks made an appearance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday, taking the stage for a performance of their song “Not Ready To Make Nice.”
Dressed in matching red ensembles, the trio, composed of Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer, delivered a fiery, emotional rendition of the 2006 single.
“Not Ready To Make Nice” was written in response to the backlash the trio received after speaking out against President George W. Bush following September 11 and the invasion of Iraq.
While on stage in London, Maines said, “…we don’t want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
The trio received backlash from country music listeners and artists alike and their songs were pulled from country radio.
The song was released three years later.
“I’m not ready to make nice/ I’m not ready to back down/ I’m still mad as hell and I don’t have time/ To go ’round and ’round and ’round/ It’s too late to make it right/ I probably wouldn’t if I could/ ‘Cause I’m mad as hell, can’t bring myself/ To do what it is you think I should,” they sing, making quite the statement.
In early 2007, the “Not Ready To Make Nice” earned three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
The performance comes as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed album Taking the Long Way.
After Taking the Long Way arrived in May 2006, it quickly climbed to the top of the Billboard 200 chart and went on to earn The Chicks five GRAMMY Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Nearly two decades later, the project is still regarded as one of the most impactful and influential albums of its era.
In celebration of the anniversary, The Chicks have announced their Taking the Long Way 20th Anniversary Tour. The trek will kick off September 30 at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, before making stops in major cities across the U.S., including Chicago, New York City, Nashville, San Antonio, Austin, Seattle, and San Francisco. The tour will conclude with a two-night finale at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA on November 1 and 2.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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