The Chicks Are Ready to Make Tour Plans, With ‘Taking the Long Way’ 20th Anniversary Theater Outing Set for Fall

The Chicks are gearing up to commemorate a significant career highlight: the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed, multi-Grammy-winning album, "Taking the Long Way." In celebration, the trio has unveiled plans for a fall tour spanning 10 U.S. cities, with 16 performances scheduled exclusively in theaters. This marks their first domestic tour since the arena shows of 2023, and it carries a pointed subtitle: "Still Not Ready to Make Nice." This phrase directly references their defiant 2006 anthem, which emerged three years after the group—then performing as the Dixie Chicks—faced severe backlash for criticizing President George W. Bush and the Iraq War. The fallout included widespread boycotts and radio blacklists, yet "Not Ready to Make Nice" won Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, while "Taking the Long Way" secured Album of the Year, an extraordinary sweep of the ceremony's top three categories. Music historian Dr. Sarah Jenkins notes, "This tour transcends mere nostalgia; it represents a bold assertion of resilience and artistic freedom, themes that resonate as powerfully now as they did two decades ago." The album's production, helmed by Rick Rubin, also marked a sonic shift toward rock and folk influences, broadening the group's appeal beyond traditional country boundaries.

The anniversary trek is set to launch with a single show at Detroit's Fox Theatre on September 30, 2026, and will conclude just over a month later with two performances at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre on November 1 and 2. Interestingly, the Dolby Theatre served as the venue for the group's 2002 "An Evening with the Dixie Chicks" DVD, captured during the promotional period for their "Home" album—a time of relative peace before the political turmoil erupted. Additional stops include two-night engagements in Chicago at The Auditorium, New York's Beacon Theatre, San Antonio's Majestic Theatre, Seattle's Benaroya Hall, and San Francisco's The Masonic. Single-night shows are scheduled for Washington, D.C. at The Anthem, Nashville at The Truth, and Austin at Bass Concert Hall. Ticket sales will start with an artist presale on June 3 at 10 a.m. local time, followed by a general on-sale on June 4 at the same hour. Fans can register for the presale at signup.livenation.com/thechicks by the end of Sunday, with full details available at thechicks.com/tour. The decision to book theaters instead of arenas points toward a more intimate atmosphere, enabling fans to engage with the album's deeply personal lyrics in a setting that larger venues might struggle to replicate. This approach mirrors a broader trend among legacy acts seeking to foster closer connections with their audiences.

Prior to the anniversary tour, The Chicks have a packed summer itinerary. They are scheduled to open four stadium shows for Tim McGraw in July and August, along with standalone dates in Atlantic City, Highland (California), Lincoln (California), Missoula (Montana), and Springfield (Illinois). Earlier this year, the group headlined Brandi Carlile's Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival in Mexico, marking a significant return to the stage. The band—comprising Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer, and Martie Maguire—has navigated a complex legacy since the 2003 controversy, which saw them ostracized from country radio but embraced by a wider, more diverse fanbase. Their 2020 album "Gaslighter" further solidified their evolution as artists unafraid to confront political and personal subject matter. As they prepare to revisit "Taking the Long Way," the tour provides an opportunity to assess how the album's defiant spirit has influenced their trajectory and inspired a generation of musicians who value authenticity over industry conformity. The group's capacity to turn a moment of crisis into a lasting artistic statement remains a defining element of modern music history, with the album's themes of resilience and defiance continuing to influence artists like Kacey Musgraves and Maren Morris, who have cited The Chicks as key inspirations.