Sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robinson of the Dixie Chicks have formed their own musical duo the Court Yard Hounds away from the Dixie’s lead singer Natalie Maines, and they’ve just premiered the first single from their upcoming debut album.

“Coast”, a joyful ode to escaping hustle and bustle of city life, still has country music elements to it, but it also borrows a lot from the new rockier sound that the Dixie Chicks explored on their last album Taking The Long Way. Emily is now singing the lead vocal for the first time, and whilst she doesn’t have the powerful pipes that Natalie does her voice isn’t without it’s charm, sounding quite similar to Sheryl Crow.

Court Yard Hounds debut album drops this May, and will be followed by a small national tour. I wonder if seeing the girls do so well will inspire Natalie to come back for a new Dixie Chicks album?

**Song Removed At The Request of Label**

A week ago I reported that Dixie Chicks sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire would branch out from the group and release their own album together since lead singer Natalie Maines wasn’t ready to return to the studio.

Well now the girls have officially announced that their new name is the Court Yard Hounds. The duo will hit the road in March to tour, followed by the release of their debut album in May.

“Emily and I had the itch,” Maguire says, “and every time we’d call Natalie and say ‘are you ready?’ she wasn’t ready. She wanted a clear-cut break.”

“I’m hoping she’ll come out to one of our shows,” Maguire says. Maybe it’ll inspire her to want to do music again.”

Emily Robinson for the first time will sing the lead vocals on the intimate pop-folk album, will has been described as “very personal” and will have songs detailing Robinson’s recent divorce.

“Emily and I had the itch,” Maguire says, “and every time we’d call Natalie and say ‘are you ready?’ she wasn’t ready. She wanted a clear-cut break.”

By the sounds of things Natalie doesn’t seem to enthusiastic about rejoining the girls. Could this be the end of the Dixie Chicks, who have 13 Grammy awards and are the biggest selling girl group in the US with over 30 million records?

The all female country group the Dixie Chicks will return with a new album this year, but there’s one problem — lead singer Natalie Maines won’t be joining them.

According to HitsDoubleDaily Natalie is enjoying motherhood and living in Hawaii far too much to want to return to work just yet, so that just leaves sisters Marti McGuire and Emily Robison to fly the Dixie flag in their bandmates absence.

The pair will release a new album together sometime this year, followed by a tour. It’s currently unknown whether or not the ladies will release the album under the Dixie Chicks name or not, but it has been confirmed that Natalie is only on a break and has not left the group.

Natalie’s voice is the trademark of the band so I don’t know how they’ll do without her distinctive wail, but I’m a big fan of the country trio so I’ll give the two sisters a chance.

The Dixie Chicks are the biggest selling girl group in the US with over 30 million albums sold. Their last album Taking The Long Way was certified 2x platinum and won 5 Grammy awards, including album of the year.