She had no idea of the trouble the statement would cause, as country music stations subsequently refused to play their music in response to a campaign of public pressure. As a result, there were death threats when the group performed in Texas and police protection had to be called upon. But the episode, while taking a financial toll, opened the opportunity for fans to hail the singers’ stand and the group also broadened its repertoire to go beyond dependence on country audiences. This portrait of the Dixie Chicks is fascinating and stirring.

To her credit, Maines has refused to back down and apologize. In fact, in the film Maines re-states her view. Her colleagues Martie Maguire and Emily Robison have backed her up. While the politics of the affair makes for juicy color, Kopple and Peck are after much more than that. They capture a portrait of the talented singers as individuals with family connections and as serious performers struggling with building a career, keeping their work fresh and surmounting obstacles that cross their path. The film peers into their music world and implicitly looks askance at their detractors.