Laura Lynch, the founding member and musician of the country group The Chicks, formerly Dixie Chicks, died at the age of sixty-five in a car crash.
She served as the original bassist and vocalist of the group Dixie Chicks. She died in a head-on collision that happened on 22 December 2023 on a highway in Hudspeth County, as per the reports given by Sgt—Eliot Torres of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Lynch was traveling eastbound on the highway when another driver traveling westbound attempted to pass a vehicle on a “two-way undivided portion” of the road, striking Lynch’s vehicle head-on. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the investigation of the accident is ongoing.
The Chicks was founded in 1989 by Laura Lynch alongside the Erwin Sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer and the guitarist Robin Lynn Macy. Lynch was part of the group during the release of their first three albums.
All of them played and sang, but Maguire and Strayer had played most of the instruments while Lynch and Macy were the lead vocalists.
These albums include their debut LP Thank Heavens for Dale Evans, Little Ol’ Cowgirl, and Shouldn’t a Told You That.
The Chicks paid tribute to its Founder
The Chicks has shared a heartfelt note on the loss of one of the founders of their band. They shared a statement on their social media accounts, remembering their former bandmate.
The band’s official channels posted a statement on 24 December 2023 expressing grief on her sudden demise. The members were really saddened and shocked by the loss of Lynch, who was a member during The Chicks’ formation in 1989.
The band posted on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) that they shared a video of Lynch performing the track West Texas Wind with her former bandmates.
In the note, the members described Laura as a bright light and said that she was very humorous during the time they were together. The note was signed by all the members, including Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer, and Martie Maguire.
The note that was posted was
Laura was a bright light…her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band the statement continued.
Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this sad time.
Laura Lynch left the band in 1993 and was replaced by The Chick’s current member, Natalie Maines, and broke into the mainstream with their fourth album, Wide Open Spaces.
Later, Lynch said that it cannot be characterized as a resignation, acknowledging age as a factor. She said that she quit music as she wanted to focus on her daughter.
In 2003, she said that she did not regret missing out on the fame, and she had fond memories of leading the band through its hectic and hard times. The Chicks dropped “Dixie” from their name in 2020 as the term “Dixie” has often been associated with the slavery era.
Many musicians and celebrities commented on the post. Sheryl Crow, who has collaborated with the Chicks, commented on their Instagram post that she is feeling the sadness of their loss.
Roger William wrote on X that it is very sad to hear the passing of his dear friend. He wrote that Laura was a great American and she will be missed dearly.
