Founding Dixie Chicks Member Laura Lynch Dies in Car Accident
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Founding member of The Dixie Chicks and well-regarded bass player Laura Lynch has died in a car accident in Texas. Lynch founded The Dixie Chicks with multi-instrumentalist sisters Martie and Emily Erwin, and guitarist Robin Lynn Macy in 1989 as a bluegrass and traditional country band. She was 65 years old.
Lynch was also a lead vocalist in The Dixie Chicks, and co-wrote multiple songs for the band, including “I’m Falling Again” and “Pink Toenails.” Lynch appears on the band’s first three albums, Thank Heavens for Dale Evans (1990), Little Ol’ Cowgirl (1992), and Shouldn’t a Told You That (1993). She left the band in 1995 as the group began pursuing a more contemporary sound with new member Natalie Maines.
According to the Texas Dept. of Public Safety, Laura Lynch was killed in a head on collision on Friday, December 22nd near Dell City, TX, just east of El Paso. Lynch was heading east on Highway 62 when another vehicle heading westbound was trying to pass another vehicle on the two-lane highway. The westbound vehicle did not clear the lane in time, hitting the car of Lynch. She was pronounced dead on the scene.
The other driver was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The accident is currently under investigation.
Though many know of The Dixie Chicks through their commercial era, the band started out playing bluegrass behind fiddle competition champions Martie and Emily Erwin, as well as covering traditional country standards. They were named after the album Dixie Chicken by Little Feat’s Lowell George. At the beginning, all four women sang, but Laura Lynch primarily sang lead vocals with Robin Lynn Macy. When Macy left in 1992, Laura Lynch took over most lead vocal duties.
Lynch left the band as they began pursuing a more commercial direction heading into their Monument Records debut Wide Open Spaces in 1998. Natalie Maines ultimately replaced Lynch in the lead vocal spot after her father, steel guitarist Lloyd Maines, suggested her to the band. Lloyd Maines had played on the band’s albums in the past. The Dixie Chicks officially changed their name to “The Chicks” in 2020.
Laura Lynch is survived by her husband Mac Tull, and their daughter.
The Chicks Released a statement upon Laura Lynch’s death, saying,
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together. Laura was a bright light…her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band. Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this sad time.”
December 23, 2023 @ 3:55 pm
I thought Laura had a good singing voice and they were a likeable group. Were they ever going to be a mainstream group of hitmakers? Not likely. But I think they were a good niche artist similar to the Quebe Sisters, whom I really like. Sad news all around…
December 23, 2023 @ 4:04 pm
Sad. I liked them before Natalie Maines showed up and ruined them with her mouth.
December 23, 2023 @ 6:13 pm
I’m completely, 100% against wokester ideology, but Natalie Maines was right about the Iraq war. People online like to say negative stuff about her, but she was right way back then. It’s interesting because there was bipartisan support for that war in 2003 or so, and now we almost agree that it was a mistake. Weird that you would say she “ruined them with her mouth.”
I don’t know anything else about her, so don’t make a strawman about me supporting this and that. The Dixie Chicks were cancelled because they spoke out against an unjust war. That’s all.
December 24, 2023 @ 7:25 am
Maines didn’t just speak out about the war. She got on stage in a foreign country and said she was ashamed to be from the same state as the then-President. That goes way beyond criticizing the war.
I’m not saying I canceled the Dixie Chicks myself at that point, because I never liked Maines’ singing voice and therefore wasn’t a fan. But I just wanted to clarify she did more than just speak out against our country’s participation in an unjust war
December 25, 2023 @ 1:46 pm
It’s all so quaint in retrospect and .as many could see at the time, ridiculously reactive. I truly cannot imagine any artist of any stripe, country or otherwise, getting cancelled for saying they were embarrassed to be from the same state as Obama or Biden or Clinton. It’s such a nothing comment, but the reactionary right have always been the original snowflakes, cancellation pioneers and enemies of free speech.
December 24, 2023 @ 8:05 am
No, they were cancelled because Maines didn’t have the guts to say it in this country. Plenty of artists spoke out against the war. They did it here.
Maines also didn’t understand her core audience. Saying you are ashamed to be from the same state our (then) President was from rubbed many people the wrong way who otherwise agreeded the war was wrong.
it was a poor choice of words and poor timing. Then to make matters worse, she doubled down on it. Openly telling the few fans who remained on her side to “F” you was the straw that broke the camel’s back and there was no coming back from that.
December 24, 2023 @ 9:07 am
I’m sure if Maines only knew ahead of time that the President planned to invade Iraq she could have scheduled the tour around it to make sure she made the comment in a venue you approved of. As it stands, she was in the UK, a country that was also involved.
Her statement was factually incorrect though. Unless she is from Connecticut she does not hail from the same state as President Bush.
December 24, 2023 @ 6:15 pm
I’m unaware of Natalie Maines telling the fans who were on HER SIDE to F-U. That would be rather bizarre.
January 3, 2024 @ 11:46 am
It didn’t help that she said they never claimed to be country, they didn’t give back any of the awards they won in the genre
December 25, 2023 @ 3:10 pm
They were “cancelled” by traditional country radio but they came back to find a new audience. I stuck with them for a while. But the recent name change (chicken sh*t) was the last nail in the coffin. And their songwriting (Gaslighter? yuck) was in the toilet. It’s hard for me to listen to them at all now
December 25, 2023 @ 5:20 pm
Yeah, I’m with you. They were cool back when they were touring with Pat Green and company in the early aughts. No interest in them after the PC name change. None.
December 23, 2023 @ 7:25 pm
Not the time.
December 23, 2023 @ 7:41 pm
Let’s please understand this is an obituary for someone who died tragically and try to be respectful. Let’s please also not let this become a political discussion.
December 23, 2023 @ 8:06 pm
God forbid musicians speak their mind like any other human being
December 23, 2023 @ 8:45 pm
I said nothing specific…I could have been talking about her singing voice, which for the record I don’t care for. I liked the group better when they were bluegrass – instrumentally and vocally. but y’all go on and assume I meant her politics.
December 26, 2023 @ 1:04 pm
Right, you’re totally innocent. A real class act.
December 26, 2023 @ 10:13 pm
I’m glad you see it my way lol
December 23, 2023 @ 5:51 pm
laura was thrown under the proverbial bus for natalie ma.ines & her daddy charlie maines & j
her big mouth -guess hey hot their nash vegas dream – u guys totally suck
December 27, 2023 @ 11:22 pm
Natalie’s dad is named Lloyd Maine’s.
December 23, 2023 @ 8:44 pm
Man some of the people who comment on this site are bizarre. RIP
January 2, 2024 @ 7:46 am
“It must been the pills they took…”
December 24, 2023 @ 12:24 am
Very sad news indeed.
I have to admit I actually had no idea of the band’s origins or that it’s roots went back to 1990. The photo above could be of an entirely different group (which you might argue it was).
RIP.
December 24, 2023 @ 1:42 am
I knew “of” the Dixie Chicks in their Laura Lynch era, but not much more. However she was a founding member of an amazing group that looms large over the Country Music world.
I’m saddened to hear of her accidental death.
Condolences to all her family & friends.
December 24, 2023 @ 1:47 am
Did Laura cotinue playing music after she left the Dixie Chicks?
December 24, 2023 @ 7:17 am
Her husband came into enough money that she didn’t need to slog it out on the road. There’s a pic out there of her with a Rolls with grandma license plates, enjoying life.
December 24, 2023 @ 6:17 am
How awful and right before Christmas. RIP Laura Lynch
December 24, 2023 @ 6:44 am
The news report I read said she wasn’t wearing a seat belt. I can’t believe anyone still does that in this day and age! In my case, I buckled up and became a believer immediately after seeing a guy flung out of a car during a T-Bone collision in 1972. His head basically looked like a smashed melon. I won’t even drive across a parking lot unbuckled.
December 29, 2023 @ 12:42 pm
True – it might have saved her – but when stupid people try passing on a 2 lane road – it usually ends badly – for her but not the other driver. Happens a lot – it is a shame – she was right – dead right!
December 24, 2023 @ 8:07 am
That’s such a shame. It was the only version of The Dixie Chicks I really liked. The contemporary sound was a turnoff and I never much listened to them again.
Prayers out to her family, it’s that much more difficult losing someone like that this time of year.
December 24, 2023 @ 9:41 am
Folks, if this is just going to turn into another rehash of the Dixie Chicks vs. Bush, I’m going to shut this comments section down. Let’s please all understand the context in which this information is being shared.
December 25, 2023 @ 7:29 pm
Lol it’s the chicks fault that this is their reputation
December 24, 2023 @ 11:16 am
I used to live in Dallas and can remember the original incarnation of the band playing on street corners. They were very good. A sad loss.
December 24, 2023 @ 11:29 am
I saw them perform in the ‘90s at the IBMA annual showcase of bands. I thought that she was one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. I always wondered what happen in her life. Sorry to hear this sad news. ☹️Ji
December 24, 2023 @ 11:59 am
Such a tragic way for one’s life to have ended. No doubt she will be missed by her loved ones. (We like bluegrass, enjoyed the Dixie Chicks, and I respect those who practise, ‘Truth to Power’.) We all need to give/send hugs to our loved ones ASAP — as a tribute to all those like Laura who can’t. Hugs to all of you from Canada.
December 24, 2023 @ 10:10 pm
Do you think Ms. Lynch’s passing will provide a reason to rerelease those early DC albums? They seem very hard to find! Are the current Cs holding them back for legal reasons?
December 25, 2023 @ 5:11 pm
It doesn’t matter much now does it all of her sins is paid for. So you all throw her under the Bus and bashing on her needs to stop this is a place for to respect her for the ones who like her loved her. All sins are paid for through Death. Look it up. If what she did was a really bad sin she paid for.
December 25, 2023 @ 7:34 pm
This article has great information about her life after the Chicks: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2023/12/23/former-dixie-chick-laura-lynch-no-regrets-missing-on-bands-success/72022620007/
December 26, 2023 @ 12:31 am
Thanks, that’s a good read. Certainly some ‘interesting’ quotes from her.
December 26, 2023 @ 11:18 pm
Why aren’t you using their current name, the Chicks? I kind of get it while referencing the albums Laura Lynch played on because that was their name at the time, but you also use it when quoting the band’s statement regarding her passing. It’s a little odd.
December 29, 2023 @ 10:53 pm
I’m not sure why Trig used Dixie Chicks both times. But I’ve seen other sites not mention Dixie Chicks at all in reporting this story and it seems to me disrespectful for them to do that given the circumstances.
I also think that from a country music perspective, the Chicks will always be the Dixie Chicks. When the Chicks are inducted into the CMHOF as The Chicks it will be weird that they are not inducted as the Dixie Chicks.
December 29, 2023 @ 11:05 pm
I should have referred to them as “The Chicks” in connection with the statement they released, and I’ve updated that. If I refer to the band in the past tense when they still went by The Dixie Chicks, I call them The Dixie Chicks. If it’s something in present day, I refer to them as The Chicks. Sometimes I will also say the [Dixie] Chicks if I’m calling upon something in the past.
December 27, 2023 @ 8:12 am
Oh,crap !!!!!! I was a (Dixie) Chicks fan,and Laura’s passing is a real post-Christmas bummer. (Though she died two days before Christmas.) RIP,Laura,you’ll be missed !!!!!!!
January 2, 2024 @ 7:53 am
Ya’ll should know by now they named themselves after the Little Feat song, Dixie Chicken.
For all you closet Garth Brooks fans on here, he did a version of it on his album, The Chase.
Ms. Lynch said in an interview she couldn’t be a chicken, so they shortened it to Dixie Chicks.
RIP Ms. Lynch, happy trails.