Country act The Chicks to sing US anthem at Democratic convention

By Nandita Bose

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Country band The Chicks will perform the U.S. national anthem at the Democratic National Convention where Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the party’s 2024 presidential nomination on Thursday night, a source said.

Formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, the group sold millions of records before facing a backlash in 2003 over comments critical of the U.S. invasion of Iraq under Republican President George W. Bush.

The group shortened their name in 2020, saying they wanted to distance themselves from “Dixie,” a word closely associated with the pre-Civil War South and slavery.

In convention hallways, speculation has focused on whether megastar Beyonce will also appear. Beyonce’s song “Freedom” filled the arena when Harris unexpectedly walked on stage on Day One of the convention. The campaign declined to comment.

Other performers at the four-day event ending on Thursday have included Jason Isbell, John Legend, Maren Morris and Stevie Wonder.

Republicans who nominated former President Donald Trump at a Milwaukee convention last month heard performances by Kid Rock and country singer Lee Greenwood. The U.S. election takes place on Nov. 5.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Howard Goller)