Dixie Chicks bare more than souls

COUNTRY music band the Dixie Chicks, who sparked controversy when they denounced President George W Bush, yesterday hit back at critics through a nude appearance on the cover of a US magazine.

The Texas trio were accused of being anti-American after singer Natalie Maines spoke out at a London concert before the outbreak of war saying she was ashamed to come from the same state as the president.

Her outburst resulted in a mass boycott of the group’s music, with one radio station organising a tractor to crush their CDs, and even death threats.