Laura Lynch, the founder of Dixie Chicks Band ,Dies at 65 in car crash

A car accident claimed the life of Laura Lynch, a founding member of the American country music group the Dixie Chicks. She was sixty-five.
Ralph Lauer/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

She was killed, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, on Friday following an accident involving two cars close to El Paso.

The current band members expressed their shock and sadness over the news in an Instagram post.

"The moments we shared laughing, traveling, and making music together will always have a particular place in our hearts.

"Laura was a shining star; our band's early days were energized by her contagious enthusiasm and sense of humor.

"Laura was crucial to the band's early success because she had a knack for design and a passion for everything Texas.

Laura was a major contributor to the band's early success because she had a knack for design and a passion for all things Texas.

"Her indisputable abilities enabled us to go from street corner busking to performing on stages throughout Texas and the mid-West," the band stated, expressing their condolences to Laura's "loved ones."

In 1989, the band was originally formed in Dallas, Texas, under the name Dixie Chicks. Martie and Emily Erwin, who were multi-instrumentalists, Lynch, a bassist and later vocalist, and guitarist Robin Lynn Macy were the other founding members.

Along with frequently busking, the band played bluegrass and country music at a variety of events and festivals.

The Dixie Chicks put out three albums: Thank Heavens for Dale Evans, Little Ol' Cowgirl, and Shouldn't a Told You That, before Lynch made the decision to depart in 1995.

However, it wasn't until 1998 that the band's Wide Open Spaces album would see mainstream success.

Three years ago, The Chicks became the new name for the band. Following complaints that the word "Dixie" had ties to American slavery, the decision was made to remove it.

An Entire Canvas of Life: Exceeding the Dixie Chicks

Even though Laura's life was greatly shaped by the Dixie Chicks, her legacy went far beyond the stage. She was a devoted wife, mother, friend, and companion who delighted in the small things in life. With the same love for music that permeated every part of her, she raised her son and treasured her time spent with loved ones, taking comfort in intimate songs and silent giggles.

Music was her comfort even when she was not in the spotlight; it was a constant companion that told stories to her in the silence.