Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks performing at the Shepherd's Bush Empire. London, England- 15.06.06

The WIDE OPEN SPACES singer became a target for American patriots in 2003 after she criticised President GEORGE W BUSH during a London concert.

Maines' life was threatened and Dixie Chicks tracks were banned from country music radio stations after the outspoken singer declared she was "ashamed" to come from the same state as Bush (Texas).

And now Maines is testing Americans again by questioning patriotism in British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.

She says, "The entire country (US) may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism. Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why?

"You can like where you live and like your life, but, as for loving the whole country... I don't see why people care about patriotism."

The comment appeared in the newspaper on Thursday (15JUN06), just before the trio took to the Shepherd's Bush Empire stage - the same London venue where Maines made her infamous remarks about President Bush.