The Chicks Launch Taking the Long Way Anniversary Tour

A Two-Act Celebration of a Landmark Album

Performing at Detroit's Fox Theatre, the trio—consisting of Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Robison—commemorated the 20th anniversary of their landmark 2006 album, Taking the Long Way. The Chicks, who formed in 1989 and are pillars of the Country and folk-rock genres, structured the opening night performance into two distinct acts. For the first act, the members were all dressed in black and white as they performed the 14-track Taking the Long Way album in its entirety.

The performance of the full album included the Grammy-winning "Not Ready to Make Nice," a song written as a response to the significant backlash the group faced in 2003. This controversy began after Maines criticized then-President George W. Bush during a stage performance in London regarding the invasion of Iraq. During that 2003 show, Maines stated:

"we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas"

— Natalie Maines

In a notable coincidence, the tour's opening night on Sept. 30, 2026, also marked the final withdrawal of the U.S. military from Iraq, occurring more than two decades after the initial invasion. The original Taking the Long Way album was a critical success, winning five Grammys in 2007, including the prestigious categories of Album, Record, and Song of the Year.

Setlist and Hit Performances

The opening night featured a 23-song set. Following the complete rendition of their 2006 album, the second act shifted focus toward the band's career-spanning hits and selected covers. This portion of the show included the revenge-themed "Goodbye Earl," the romantic "Cowboy Take Me Away," and their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s "Landslide." The trio also performed "Gaslighter," the title track from their 2020 studio album, and a cover of Beyoncé’s "Daddy Lessons" from the 2016 album Lemonade.

The full setlist from the Detroit opening night included:

• "The Long Way Around" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Easy Silence" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Not Ready to Make Nice" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Everybody Knows" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Bitter End" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Lullaby" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Lubbock or Leave It" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Silent House" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Favorite Year" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Voice Inside My Head" (Taking the Long Way)

• "I Like It" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Baby Hold On" (Taking the Long Way)

• "So Hard" (Taking the Long Way)

• "I Hope" (Taking the Long Way)

• "Goodbye Earl" (Fly)

• "Wide Open Spaces" (Wide Open Spaces)

• "White Trash Wedding" (Home)

• "Daddy Lessons" (Beyoncé cover)

• "Cowboy Take Me Away" (Fly)

• "Landslide" (Home)

• "Gaslighter" (Gaslighter)

• "Traveling Soldier" (Home)

• "Sin Wagon" (Fly)

• "Long Time Gone" (Home)

Expanded Anniversary Edition and Tour Schedule

Coinciding with the tour, Sony’s Legacy Recordings will release an expanded edition of Taking the Long Way on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. This new release will be available in 3 LP and digital formats. The expanded version features five bonus tracks, including previously unreleased demos of "Not Ready to Make Nice," "So Hard," and "Flowers," alongside two rare songs titled "Thin Line" and "Live Wire."

Following the Detroit opener, the 20th Anniversary tour will travel across the United States through November. The upcoming schedule includes:

• Oct. 3–4: Chicago, IL – The Auditorium

• Oct. 6: Washington, DC – The Anthem

• Oct. 7: Philadelphia, PA – The Met

• Oct. 9: Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall of Fenway

• Oct. 10, 12, 13: New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

• Oct. 15: Nashville, TN – The Truth

• Oct. 17–18: San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre

• Oct. 20: Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall

• Oct. 25–26: Seattle, WA – Benaroya Hall

• Oct. 29–30: San Francisco, CA – The Masonic

• Nov. 1–3: Hollywood, CA – Dolby Theatre

The tour is scheduled to conclude in Los Angeles with a three-night residency at the Dolby Theatre from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3.