The Chicks

The Chicks – formerly known as The Dixie Chicks – sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The Chicks were once one of the biggest names in country music when the band’s breakthrough albums – 1998 Wide, open spaces and 1999 Fly — each achieved the coveted diamond status of the Recording Industry Association of America, corresponding to sales of more than 10 million copies each.

Then, in 2003, in the run-up to the US war with Iraq, singer Natalie Maines told a crowd in London that the band opposed both the war and then-President George W. Bush.

“We don’t want this war, this violence,” Maines said at a Chicks concert, adding, “And we are ashamed that the President of the United States comes from Texas.”

This moment sparked a backlash against The Chicks in the United States, led by many country radio stations whose playlists the group had once dominated.

In 2020, they performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention.

And once again, her performance had great cultural weight: In recent weeks, “Not Ready to Make Nice” co-opted by conservative TikTok influencerswho used the song to signal their opposition to Kamala Harris’ candidacy.

Pink

Pink took the stage for a rousing, nearly flawless performance of her 2017 protest anthem “What About Us.” Accompanied by a guitarist and four backup singers, including her 13-year-old daughter Willow Sage Hart, Pink stayed on topic as the group sang the song’s chorus — “What about us? / What about all the times you said you had the answers?” — in unison.

The Pack Drumline

The band The Pack Drumline from Chicago performed, with a drum that even played upside down.

But no Beyoncé or Taylor Swift

In the lead-up to the DNC’s closing night, rumors circulated about high-profile, yet-to-be-announced musical guests. Given that Wednesday’s performances included Stevie Wonder and John Legend, these rumors helped raise audience expectations immeasurably.

The Chicks And Pink brought a lot of star power with them. But they were not accompanied by Beyonce or Taylor Swiftas a wide flood of breathless speculation on social media predicted but could never fully confirm.

Instead, the special, previously unannounced guest was…nobody. The evening’s main attraction, Vice President Harris, stood all by herself – which was perhaps the point of the event all along.

➡️ Here’s who performed on the third night of the Democratic National Convention

➡️ Here’s who performed on the first night of the DNC (and who got kicked out)

➡️ Here’s who performed on the second night of the DNC

Copyright: NPR

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