Dixie Chicks a no-go in Houston

So the Dixie Chicks have a new album that tons of people are buying, and they are becoming more popular/notorious every day. That would seem like good fuel to sell scores of tickets for venues on their tour, right? Apparently not, at least in the United States.

Houston, along with St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, and Memphis have either been cancelled or postponed due to lack of ticket demand. St. Louis' Savvis Center website reads:

Due to the overwhelming demand for the Dixie Chicks in Canada, England and Australia, this concert date must be rerouted and the on-sale will be postponed until the fall.

Well, yeah, Toronto sold out in eight minutes. This has us wondering, though...is the enormous non-U.S. demand for the Dixie Chicks intimidating U.S. concert-goers, thus resulting in the poor sales? Probably not.

Natalie Maines, the group's lead singer, has had feuds with Toby Keith, and did recently retract her apology to George W. Bush. Even though we think Houstonians love controversy (and the Dixie Chicks), those from the music industry say it's the hullabaloo that is hindering the sales. Others will just have to keep their eyebrows raised.

Photo: Dima Gavrysh, AP