The Chicks 'saddened' as former bandmember dies in head-on collision

23 December 2023 , 22:04

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The Chicks are trailblazers in country music (Image: Getty Images)

Founding member of The Chicks Laura Lynch died at age 65, leaving the band in shock.

Upon hearing the news, the current members of the band, Emily, Martie, and Natalie, shared a touching tribute to Instagram. They wrote: "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together.

"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. Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West."

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Laura Lynch reportedly died in a car accident

The musician reportedly died in a head-on collision while driving near El Paso, Texas. According to TMZ, while a car coming in the opposite direction tried to pass another vehicle, they slammed into Laura's vehicle instead. She was reportedly pronounced dead on site, the other driver was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

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Tributes came flooding in from fans upon hearing the news. One wrote: "I’m so deeply sad to hear this. Sending all my love to her friends and family. She seems like she was the happiest, kindest person. I hope her loved ones are able to find comfort in their memories of her. I’m so thankful to her for everything she did to help create my favorite band of all time."

She left the band after Robin

Another said: "I discovered you when Laura was still with the band — and the sparkling Western wear was your signature. While I love your evolution I also loved your early era. Rest in peace and beauty, Laura."

While Laura was not actively in the band at the time of her passing, she was among the original women to form the genre-changing group. The Chicks, who were formerly known as The Dixie Chicks before changing their name to eliminate racist implications, are trailblazers for women in the country music scene and continue to make music to this day.

Alex West