• June 18, 2003

CMT is planning a special on the public battle between the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines and Toby Keith called Natalie vs. Toby: Both Sides of the War. It will premiere at 10 p.m. Friday. Featuring interviews, photographs and news coverage, CMT explores the issue's impact on country music and how Americans are taking sides. The feud began in 2002 when Maines criticized Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue" song, and escalated when Keith displayed a fictitious photograph of Maines with Saddam Hussein at his concerts. Maines appeared at the 2003 ACM Awards wearing a T-shirt that some say blasted Keith. The special includes interviews with music journalists Jay Orr, Peter Cooper and Fred Shuster; After MidNite host Blair Garner; KZLA's Peter Tilden and Ken Paulson of the First Amendment Center.