Dixie Chicks Back Off Apology

The new album by the Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way is being released Tuesday, but, apparently they've decided to be more direct in their words than the CD title would suggest.

The Chicks recently appeared on 60 Minutes a week ago and promoted their new release and it's first single, "Not Ready to Play Nice." That clearly is true since they have also decided to retract their apology to President Bush. You may recall that the Chicks stirred up a flap three years ago when singer Natalie Maines told a London audience they were embarrassed the President is from Texas. Their songs were pulled from country radio at the peak of the most successful period of their careers and they even had their lives threatened as a result.

Houstonist has no idea whether this is just how they honestly feel, a desperate plea for attention to pump up album sales or a concious decision to commit career suicide. Whatever the case may be, the fact that they and the President share the home state of Texas makes us ground zero for the discussion. And you'll get your chance to cheer or protest when they visit Toyota Center on September 30.