Laura Lynch

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Laura Lynch (born c. 1956) is an American musician, who is best known as a founding member of the female country group the Dixie Chicks.

A cowgirl who was also a single mother, Lynch played in Japan as a member of a group known as the Texas Rangers, a play on the name of the famous law enforcement agency. She then become a founder of the Dixie Chicks, a bluegrass band in Dallas, when she was already 33 years old. With the Chicks she was the group's bassist, co-lead singer, and occasional songwriter. After Robin Lynn Macy left the group in 1992, Lynch took over sole lead singing responsibilities.

Commercial success continued to elude the group, however, and in 1995 Lynch was asked to leave and replaced by Natalie Maines. Reasons given for the switch included musical style, vocal personality and strength, and, per The Dallas Morning News, age and image [1]. (Lynch was over a decade older than other members Martie Erwin and Emily Erwin.) With Maines, the Chicks suddenly became a diamond record-level smash success, leading some to compare Lynch's fate to that of fired Beatle Pete Best. [2]

By her own description Lynch "cried every day for six months" after the change. She eventually left the music business, married, and moved to Weatherford, Texas. Her husband later won millions in the Texas Lottery. [3] Lynch now serves on the board of directors of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. [4]