Dixie Chicks Come to Tulsa (on Film)

One of our favorite outspoken musical groups is coming to Tulsa's Circle Cinema in January. Shut up and Sing, a documentary film about the Dixie Chicks, will open in Tulsa on Jan. 12

We haven't seen the film, but the trailer(www.myspace.com/shutupandsing) makes clear that it focuses on the controversy surrounding singer Natalie Maines' remark that she (a Texan) was "ashamed" that the President was from Texas. The comment caused many fans to disown the Chicks and their music.

But the controversy didn't stop there: Maines and her group were vilified by the many right-wing critics, a push-back that included not just dumping the group's CDs but a great deal of overheated speech and even death threats.

As free speech advocates, we at AltTulsa have admired Natalie Maines' willingness to speak her mind, even when it was unpopular to do so. So we'll be there when Shut Up and Sing comes to T-Town.

Besides, Natalie's low opinion of Bush is now the majority opinion in the U.S. She just realized it sooner.