During the extended leave of lead singer Natalie Maines, Dixie Chicks sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire got restless. Drawing on their childhood experiences, the two decided to form a new duo, Court Yard Hounds, to begin producing folk-pop music.

QUESTIONS:

1. What type of change led to the formation of Court Yard Hounds? What forces drive this change?
2. Arguably, fans of the Dixie Chicks will have mixed reactions to this change. How should Emily Robison and Martie Maguire deal with resistance?
3. Creativity is fundamentally the same wherever it occurs, but the creative process may differ from one context to another. Discuss the creativity associated with this new group and their music.

SOURCE: E. Gardner, “Two Dixie Chicks Decide to Run With the Hounds,” USA Today (Retrievable online at http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2010-05-07-courtyardhounds07_ST_N.htm)