Followed by a discussion with directors Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck, moderated by Chelsea Kai Roesch (Film and Media Studies, UCSB).
In the early 2000s, the Dixie Chicks (now The Chicks) were at the height of their fame, winning Grammys and topping charts. But during their 2003 tour, a comment by lead singer Natalie Maines criticizing the Iraq War and President George W. Bush sparked major backlash. The group was boycotted, received threats, and was pulled from radio playlists, igniting a national debate over free speech.
The 2006 documentary Shut Up & Sing, directed by Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck, follows the band through this turbulent time, capturing their struggle to stand by their beliefs amid political and cultural outrage.
Part of the CWC Docs series
