Wide Open Spaces (album)


Wide Open Spaces is the fourth studio album and the major label debut of American country music band Dixie Chicks. It was their first record with new lead vocalist Natalie Maines, and became their breakthrough commercial success. It received diamond status by the RIAA on February 20, 2003, in the United States, having shipped 13 million units worldwide, while spending more than six years in the Australian ARIA music charts Country Top 20.
"Once You've Loved Somebody" had previously been recorded by John & Audrey Wiggins on their 1996 album, The Dream.
Wide Open Spaces, as well as their next albums Fly and Home, were released in the HDCD format.
In 2024, the album was selected for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Critical reception

Upon its release, Wide Open Spaces received favorable reviews from critics. Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a two-star honorable mention, simply stating that the "blonds have more brains." Los Angeles Times wrote that "this tradition-rooted Texas trio knows its way around country, western, honky-tonk, bluegrass, folk and country-rock." Concluding the review, it deemed that the "range, plus their sweet, assured three-part harmonies, Natalie Maines' attractively steely lead vocals, and savvy song selection have propelled this major-label debut into the Top 10."
In a retrospective review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, he stated that it hit a "sweet spot" and described the album as "appealing to many different audiences" and "eclectic without being elitist." He described Natalie Maines' voice as "powerful" and "bluesy" to "give these songs a compelling center" and "versatile" to " the twists and turns of these songs without a hitch, easily moving from the vulnerability of "You Were Mine" to the snarl of "Give It Up or Let Me Go." Concluding his review, he praised the "remarkably wide range" as "effortlessly eclectic" and the group for "bringing all together with their attitude and understated musicality."

Personnel

Compiled from liner notes.
The Dixie Chicks
Additional personnel
Technical

Accolades

At the 41st Grammy Awards, the album was awarded two Grammy Awards out of three nominations. It was awarded Best Country Album and for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song "There's Your Trouble". This is an award the Chicks would win five times: in 2000 for "Ready to Run", in 2003 for "Long Time Gone", in 2005 for "Top of the World" and 2007 for "Not Ready to Make Nice", a feat only matched by The Judds. In addition, the Chicks were nominated for Best New Artist in 1999.
OrganizationNominee / workAwardResult
Academy of Country Music AwardsWide Open SpacesAlbum of the YearWon
Blockbuster Entertainment AwardsWide Open SpacesFavorite Duo or Group - CountryWon
Canadian Country Music AssociationWide Open SpacesTop Selling Album of the YearWon
Country Music Association Awards"Wide Open Spaces"Single of the YearWon
Country Music Association Awards"Wide Open Spaces"Music Video of the YearWon
CMT Music AwardsWide Open SpacesAlbum of the YearNomitated
Grammy AwardsWide Open SpacesBest Country AlbumWon
Grammy Awards"There's Your Trouble"Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalWon
Radio Music Awards"Wide Open Spaces"Country Song of the YearWon
TNN/Music City AwardsWide Open SpacesAlbum of the YearNomitated