Laura Lynch, co-founding member of the Dixie Chicks, died in a head-on crash in El Paso, Texas, on Friday (December 22). She was 65 years old.
In a statement, The Chicks said: “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing, and traveling together. Laura was a bright light…her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a flair for design, a love for all things Texas and she was instrumental in the band's initial success. Her undeniable talent helped propel us beyond busking on street corners and into stages throughout Texas and the Midwest.”
Lynch was a member of the original version of the Dixie Chicks, which also featured Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire and Robin Lynn Macy. The group performed primarily bluegrass music in its early years, with Lynch playing upright bass and sharing vocal duties with Macy. Following Macy's departure from the group in 1993, Lynch briefly took over as sole lead vocalist. After a six-year stint in the band, which included three independently released studio albums, Lynch was replaced by Natalie Maines. The new line-up adopted a more contemporary pop sound, leading to immense commercial success. In 2020, Dixie Chicks renamed themselves The Chicks because the word “Dixie” had connotations with American slavery.
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