Emily Strayer

American musician; one of the original founders of the Dixie Chicks. Emily Erwin Robison and her older sister Martie Erwin Seidel Maguire founded the country music group, which, along with their singer, Natalie Maines, is based in Austin, Texas. They made their debut in the late '90s with Wide Open Spaces, the best-selling country album of 1998, subsequently selling 25 million CDs and garnering four Grammys and 10 Country Music Association awards.

Martha and Emily are the daughters of teachers who both love music and encouraged the girls to play violin. They grew up in Dallas where their father was headmaster of a private school and, with their parents’ support, began playing bluegrass music in a Dallas band. In 1989, the Dixie Chicks were born, with Emily playing banjo and Martie playing fiddle on street corners, barbecue joints and small-time venues. Selling self-made CDs in the mid-90s, the sisters added Natalie as a replacement singer in 1995 and began performing at the Grand Ole Opry, on country television shows and on tour. They finally signed with a record label, producing their hit debut album in 1999. In 2001, they sued Sony Music, accusing the company of "systematic thievery," claiming they had been cheated out of millions in royalties. The settlement of $20 million and increased royalties convinced the Chicks to stay with the record label.

The group elicited harsh criticism in the spring of 2003 when they expressed their anti-war sentiments against the Iraq War. Bandmate Natalie Maines, announced at a concert on 10 March 2003 in London, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." The group members received death threats and loss of some fans. Nevertheless they kept singing and their popularity rebounded as the war became less popular. Their comeback was complete by 2007.