HOWZAT

The band endured death threats, public CD burnings and country radio boycotts after lead singer Natalie Maines told gig-goers in London in March 2003 that she was "ashamed" the president was from her home state of Texas.

But this year they led the field at the Grammys with five awards, including best record and best song for their no-regrets anthem Not Ready To Make Nice.

The band also won best country album, a particularly ironic triumph given the fury of the country community over their Bush comment, and the fact that they do not even consider themselves country artists any more.

"I'm ready to make nice," Maines said as the group accepted the best record trophy.

"I think people are using their freedom of speech with all of these awards."

After getting best country album for the politically-tinged Taking The Long Way, Maines said: "Well, to quote the great Simpsons: heh-heh!"

The standing ovations received by the Dixie Chicks were a telling illustration of how far Americans have swung against the Iraq war and Mr Bush.

While Maines' off-the-cuff comment at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in 2003 went down a treat with anti-war Londoners, in the US it swiftly led to plummeting album sales for the group.

Mary J Blige was another big Grammy winner, with three awards for her double-platinum album The Breakthrough.

A tearful Blige said her album showed she was "growing into a better human being".

"Tonight we celebrate the better human being because for so many years, I've been talked about negatively," said the singer, who during her 15-year career has often discussed her past substance and self-esteem problems.

"But this time I've been talked about positively by so many people."

The Red Hot Chili Peppers won four awards for Stadium Arcadium, while Irish star Enya picked up the best new age album prize for Amarantine.

Kent-born Peter Frampton took the best pop instrumental album award for Fingerprints.

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