Dixie Chicks officially change name to ‘The Chicks’

The Dixie Chicks have officially changed their name to “the Chicks,” after public discussions arose over the appropriateness of the Civil War-era “Dixie” as part of their moniker.

The group had always been unofficially referred to as simply the Chicks by fans and associates, but losing the “Dixie” is still a surprise, albeit a pleasant one to some supporters who had been quietly uncomfortable with the name and its historic connotations.

“We want to meet the moment,” the country-pop trio said in a statement on their website.

In an additional statement, the group added: “A sincere and heartfelt thank you goes out to ‘The Chicks’ of NZ for their gracious gesture in allowing us to share their name. We are honored to co-exist together in the world with these exceptionally talented sisters. Chicks Rock! — Emily, Natalie and Martie”

The move became official Thursday morning on all their social media accounts and in a press release announcing their new single.

The band’s first album in 14 years, “Gaslighter,” comes out July 17.

Variety had recently published a guest column titled “After Lady Antebellum, Is It Time for the Dixie Chicks to Rethink Their Name?”

Lady Antebellum shortened its name to Lady A — also a name the group had long unofficially been known by to fans and the industry — earlier in June. In that case, Lady Antebellum also ran into an instance of someone already using the new name, although the group apparently did not realize it at the time the change was announced. The group has been in negotiations with the blues singer known as Lady A since.