• Associated Press / Yahoo, Thursday, June 1, 2006 11:45 AM

The Dixie Chicks, vilified in some quarters a while back after lead singer Natalie Maines said she was ashamed to be from the same state (and presumably, country)  as George W. Bush, have hit No. 1--again--  reports the Associated Press. The group’s newest album, “Taking the Long Way,” was tops on both the country and Billboard 200 overall charts Wednesday--with 526,000 units sold in its first week. Wade Jessen, director of Billboard‘s country charts, said that may mean country fans jest weren’t so het up about Maines’ comments as some might have thought. In addition, "there also might be a certain amount of support that may have been thrown their way by folks who are a little more liberal and that maybe never bought a country album in their lives but want to show their support.”

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