Laura Lynch. Screenshot from video of The Chicks via Instagram
Laura Lynch, a founding member of the U.S. country band “Dixie Chicks,” died in a head-on car crash on a Texas highway, law enforcement said on Saturday.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch,” the band, which renamed itself “The Chicks” in 2020, wrote on social media.
Lynch, who co-founded the popular group in 1989 in Dallas along with musicians Robin Lynn Macy and sisters Martie and Emily Erwin, died in a head-on collision on a highway outside of El Paso on Friday, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement.
On Instagram, The Chicks penned a loving tribute to Lynch, saying the country crooner “hold(s) a special place in (their) hearts.”
“We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together,” the group now composed of the remaining three members — Emily, Martie, & Natalie.
“Laura was a bright light… her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band. Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West,” the group said in a statement.