THE CHICKS PLAYED 21 SONGS AT YAAMAVA’ THEATER — THEIR FIRST U.S. SHOW IN 3 YEARS. AND NATALIE MAINES STILL ISN’T READY TO MAKE NICE. June 12, Southern California. The Chicks stepped onto the Yaamava’ Theater stage for a preview of their “Taking the Long Way 20th Anniversary Tour.” Three years since their last American show. Maines opened with a grin and a jab about everyone flying to D.C. The crowd erupted before she could even finish the sentence. But here’s what most people didn’t expect — this wasn’t an arena. It was a theater. Intimate. Close enough to see every expression, hear every string from Martie’s fiddle, every slide from Emily’s banjo. And when “Travelin’ Soldier” hit — a song that was No. 1 then basically vanished from the charts overnight back in 2003 — the whole room went still. The 16-date fall tour kicks off September 30 in Detroit, hitting New York, Nashville, and ending at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. They played “Not Ready to Make Nice” near the end. Twenty years later, it still hits the same way. – Country Music
The Chicks Return to the Stage With a Night Fans Won’t Forget at Yaamava’ Theater
On June 12 in Southern California, The Chicks stepped onto the stage at Yaamava’ Theater and gave fans something they had been waiting years to see: a full American performance after a long silence. It was their first U.S. show in three years, and it felt less like a routine concert and more like a welcome-back moment that carried real weight.
The evening was billed as a preview of The Chicks’ “Taking the Long Way 20th Anniversary Tour”, but the atmosphere inside the theater made it clear that this was already something special. Unlike a massive arena, Yaamava’ Theater offered a tighter, warmer setting. The audience could see every glance, every smile, and every quiet moment between songs. That closeness gave the show a sense of honesty that matched the band’s history.
A Familiar Spark From Natalie Maines
Natalie Maines opened the night with a grin and a sharp line about everyone flying to Washington, D.C., and the crowd responded instantly. The reaction came fast, loud, and with the kind of energy that only happens when an artist and audience understand each other well. Maines has never been afraid to speak plainly, and on this night, that confidence set the tone.
The performance moved through a 21-song set that highlighted the band’s range and staying power. Martie Maguire’s fiddle playing and Emily Strayer’s banjo work stood out in the intimate room, where every note seemed to land with extra clarity. The stripped-down setting made the music feel even more personal, as if the songs were being shared directly rather than projected to a distant crowd.
“Travelin’ Soldier” Brings the Room to a Standstill
One of the most powerful moments came when The Chicks performed “Travelin’ Soldier”. The song once reached No. 1 before disappearing from the charts in 2003, and its return in this setting carried a heavy emotional charge. The room went quiet in a way that felt immediate and complete. People were not just listening; they were remembering.
That is part of what has always made The Chicks so effective. Their best songs do more than entertain. They linger. They reopen old feelings and make them feel fresh again. In a theater filled with longtime fans, that effect was impossible to miss.
Some songs sound even bigger when the room gets smaller.
The Yaamava’ Theater show also served as a preview for the group’s 16-date fall tour, which begins on September 30 in Detroit. From there, The Chicks will travel to major cities including New York and Nashville before closing at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. For fans who missed this first U.S. appearance, the tour now feels like the next chance to witness a band that still knows how to command attention without relying on spectacle.
When the night reached “Not Ready to Make Nice” near the end, the emotion in the room was unmistakable. Twenty years later, the song still carries the same force. That may be the most remarkable thing about The Chicks: time has passed, circumstances have changed, but their music still speaks with the same clarity.
At Yaamava’ Theater, The Chicks did not just return. They reminded everyone why their songs still matter, and why a small stage can sometimes create the biggest night of all.
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When news broke that Jelly Roll had filed for divorce from Bunnie Xo, many fans assumed the story was over. Ten years of marriage, a public split, and a long road of heartbreak seemed to close the chapter on a relationship that had always felt larger than life.
But on her Dumb Blonde podcast, Bunnie Xo shared something that surprised a lot of listeners: she and Jelly Roll are still having a baby together.
A Private Battle Behind the Public Story
For years, Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll carried a private pain that was never easy to see from the outside. Their journey to parenthood began back in 2019 and included three IVF transfers and the loss of four embryos. It was a process filled with hope, waiting, and devastating disappointment.
Bunnie Xo spoke honestly about how hard that period was on her. The repeated hormone treatments and losses affected her emotionally, physically, and spiritually. She described feeling unlike herself, as if the strain of it all had slowly worn her down.
“It changed me in ways people never saw,” Bunnie Xo said, reflecting on the years of trying to build their family.
That kind of grief does not stay in one place. It seeps into everyday life, into conversations, into the quiet moments when people are supposed to feel safe. Bunnie Xo said the pressure created cracks in the marriage that could not be ignored.
The Divorce Did Not End the Bond
Even after the divorce papers were signed, Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll did not walk away from each other completely. Instead, they chose a different kind of ending — one built on love, respect, and a shared dream that never fully disappeared.
Bunnie Xo called Jelly Roll her best friend, and she said they will raise Little Nugget together as one big family. That message gave fans a clearer picture of what this chapter really looks like: not a bitter breakup, but a difficult transition shaped by years of trying, losing, and still holding on.
On the same night, Jelly Roll stepped on stage in Saratoga Springs and spoke directly to the crowd with emotion. He said, “Bunnie, I love you. Thank you for those 10 years.” It was a simple message, but it carried the weight of everything they had been through.
A Different Kind of Love Story
Some relationships end in silence. Others end with anger. But Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll seem determined to close this chapter with honesty and care. Their story is not neat, and it is not easy. Still, it is deeply human.
They lost embryos. They faced heartbreak. They signed divorce papers. And yet, the dream of becoming parents remains alive.
For fans who have followed them for years, this update is a reminder that real life rarely follows one clean path. Sometimes love changes shape. Sometimes a marriage ends while a family is still being built. And sometimes, even after everything, two people decide to keep showing up for the child they hoped for together.
That is the story Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll are telling now: not one of perfect endings, but one of continued commitment, shared history, and a baby still on the way.