Dixie Chicks founding member Laura Lynch dies at 65 in tragic accident

She has died at the age of just 65, in a freak incident, after a sparkling career in the country music scene.

She has died at the age of just 65, shocking everyone, after a sparkling career in the country music scene.

One of the founding members of the American, all-female, country music band the Dixie Chicks has died in a car crash.

Laura Lynch, 65, was driving from El Paso in the US state of Texas to a neighbouring city Dell City, when the tragic accident occurred on Friday local time (Saturday AEDT), the musician’s cousin told TMZ.

US authorities say the preliminary investigation shows that Lynch was heading east and another car heading west attempted to pass another vehicle in front of it on a two-way undivided portion of the highway.

Founding member of the Dixie Chicks Laura Lynch has died at age 65. Picture: YouTube

Founding member of the Dixie Chicks Laura Lynch has died at age 65. Picture: YouTube

As that car tried to go around, it ended up hitting Lynch’s vehicle head on and killed her.

The driver of the other vehicle was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries while Lynch was declared dead at the scene.

Lynch is survived by her daughter and her husband.

In 1989, Lynch, alongside Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Erwin, and Emily Erwin, formed the popular southern country group – now known simply as The Chicks as of 2020.

Lynch served as the band’s upright bassist before eventually becoming the lead vocalist.

Their first album, ‘Thank Heavens for Dale Evans,’ in 1990, didn’t produce any charting singles.

But then their 2nd album, ‘Little Ol’ Cowgirl,’ from 1992 featured one song that received some radio play, ‘Past the Point of Rescue.’

Their third album ‘Shouldn’t a Told You That,’ didn’t receive much commercial success either. This was the last album Lynch contributed to before leaving the band in 1995 when Natalie Maines replaced her.

US country music group The Dixie Chicks in their current form. Supplied by Chugg Entertainment.

Lynch’s decision to leave the band is believed to be due to wanting to focus more on her family and personal matters.

Maines took up lead vocal duties — with sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer staying on too. They broke through into the mainstream in 1998 with ‘Wide Open Spaces’, ‘Fly’ in 1999 and ‘Home’ in 2002.

These albums achieved multi-platinum sales in the United States, Canada and Australia along with several charting singles including ‘There’s Your Trouble’, ‘Wide Open Spaces’, ‘You were Mine’, ‘Cowboy Take Me Away’, ‘Without You’ and a cover of Bruce Robison’s ‘Travelin Soldier’ reaching number one.

But they have not been without controversy.

Days before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Maines told a London audience that the Dixie Chicks did not endorse the war and were ashamed of US President George Bush being from Texas.

The remarks triggered boycotts in the US and a backlash from fans.

After a hiatus, the Chicks released ‘Not Ready to Make Nice’ which became their biggest crossover hit in 2006.

— With The Sun

Originally published as Dixie Chicks founding member Laura Lynch dies at 65 in tragic accident