DIXIE CHICKS - DIXIE CHICKS HIT BACK AT BUSH DEATH THREATS

Country stars the DIXIE CHICKS are using their latest single to hit back at death threats they received for criticising US President GEORGE W BUSH. Singer NATALIE MAINES caused an outcry when, on the night war broke out in Iraq in 2003, she declared the band were "ashamed" of the leader. But far from backing down, they are hitting out at the backlash in their new single NOT READY TO MAKE NICE. Banjo player EMILY ROBISON says, "We knew (the song) was special because it was so autobiographical. "The stakes were definitely higher on that song." The controversial track features the lyrics: "It's a sad sad story when a mother will teach her/ Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger/ And how in the world can the words that I said/ Send somebody so over the edge/ That they'd write me a letter/ Sayin' that I better shut up and sing/ Or my life will be over."