Laura Lynch, a founding member and the original double bassist of the American country group The Dixie Chicks, died in a car accident in Texas on a recent Friday night. The group confirmed the loss in a brief, somber message to fans across their social channels, expressing that they were shocked and saddened by the news of Lynch’s passing.
According to private sources, Lynch died at the scene after a collision on a highway outside El Paso. The other driver, who was traveling the wrong way, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Authorities have not released further details about the incident at this time.
Lynch, who played bass for The Dixie Chicks, helped launch the band in Dallas, Texas, in 1989 alongside Robin Lynn Macy and sisters Martie and Emily Erwin. She contributed to three studio albums before leaving the lineup in 1993, and she briefly sang lead on the band’s third album as Macy exited. Lynch later stated that touring fatigue and a desire to prioritize family led to her departure from the group.
When The Dixie Chicks released Wide Open Spaces in 1998, the band gained international notoriety and expanded its audience. Natalie Maines then took over lead vocal duties, helping to redefine the group’s sound and propel it onto the global stage.
Colleagues remember Lynch as a bright presence whose energy and humor helped shape the band’s early days. She was also known for her design sense and her strong affection for Texas, with many noting her role in laying the groundwork for the group’s later success. In 2020, the band adopted the name The Chicks, reflecting a shift away from the historical associations of the word Dixie in the southern United States.