Dixie Chicks

As the war in Iraq loomed in 2003, the star told a London audience, "Just so you know, we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas", the group's homestate.

The remarks lead to death threats and a backlash from other country stars, including a high-profile spat with singer TOBY KEITH.

Maines was forced to apologise, but now insists, "I don't feel that way anymore. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever."

Bandmate EMILY ROBINSON claims she knew at the time the remark wouldn't be taken lightly and got "hot from my head to my toes".

She explains, "It wasn't that I didn't agree with her 100 percent, it was just, 'Oh, this is going to stir something up.'"

Band member MARTIE MAGUIRE claims the controversy helped them weed out fans and connect with a smaller, more loyal, group of followers.

She adds, "I'd rather have a small following of really cool people who get it, who will grow with us as we grow and are fans for life, than people that have us in their five-disc (CD) changer with REBA McENTIRE and TOBY KEITH. We don't want those kind of fans. They limit what you can do."