One-word chant greets the controversial band The Chicks after single song

The Chicks have reunited to perform at the Democratic National Convention 2024, sending viewers into a frenzy. 

Formerly known as The Dixie Chicks, the country music group sang the National Anthem to kick off the evening, during which Vice President Kamala Harris will give her speech.

Fans of the group erupted into applause, chanting "USA, USA, USA" repeatedly after the trio completed the song.

Watch the video above.

READ MORE: 'Rambling message' that sparked Kamala's decade-long romance

Their performance at the convention is historically significant for conservative-leaning country music fans because of the group's controversial past with politics. 

In 2003, the band's lead singer, Natalie Maines, announced in a concert that the Dallas-born group did not endorse the invasion of Iraq led by then-US president George W Bush.

READ MORE: Rocker quits band and reveals surprising career move

At the time, the US was 10 days away from invading Iraq and launched a bombing campaign alongside allies Australia, the UK and Poland.

The Chicks, like millions of other anti-war citizens, disagreed with America's involvement in the war. So, they used a concert in London to voice their dismay, saying they were "ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

The comment about Bush caused major backlash from the public and fans, with nationwide boycotts pulling the group's songs from the radio. 

Protesters even took to the streets to burn their CDs, with one group rolling over the discs with a tractor.

The majority of US voters supported the war, and there was an unsurprising crossover between this political mindset and country music fans.

READ MORE: Why now-viral Beckham moment 'pissed off' star director

View gallery

All the celebrities spotted at US political rallies

"You've just got a majority of the core of country music listening audience kind of feeling the same way about politics," band member Martie Maguire told MSNBC in 2006.

"And we always kind of felt like the black sheep [regarding our political beliefs] but never really used the stage to talk about politics."

A few days after the controversial statement, The Dixie Chicks released a statement to calm fans' concerns. 

READ MORE: Love Actually star splits from husband: 'His decision'

Maine said on the official website that The Chicks "support our troops… there is nothing more frightening than the notion of going to war with Iraq and the prospect of all the innocent lives that will be lost".

She then shared another statement, apologising directly to Bush and admitting her on-stage statement was "disrespectful".

Though, the singer retracted her apology just three years later in an interview with TIME.

"I don't feel that way anymore. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever," she said.

After this controversy, The Chicks essentially disappeared for a decade.

The official comeback was in 2020 when they returned to the spotlight with a brand new name.

Four years later, The Chicks performed the National Anthem again at Chicago's United Centre, which is of great historical and cultural significance.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.