Natalie Maines doesn’t do quiet. During The Chicks’October 12 show at NYC’s Beacon Theatre, the lead singer called Trump a“deranged nut job”and told the crowd she’d give George W. Bush“a big wet kiss”by comparison. It’s a callback to the 2003 comment that got the band blacklisted from country radio for years.
The White House didn’t let it slide. A spokesperson told Fox News that Maines is a“despicable nobody”with“Trump Derangement Syndrome.”Whether you agree with her or not, there’s something wild about the White House issuing an official statement over a concert joke.
This isn’t new territory for Maines. She’s been vocal about Trump for years, including a May 2026 Instagram post. The Chicks’“Taking the Long Way 20th Anniversary Tour”runs through early November, so expect more headlines before it wraps.
So what do you think: should artists keep politics onstage, or does it ruin the show? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.