Laura Lynch, a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, met a tragic end. She died in a head-on car crash on a Friday afternoon, aged 64.
The fatal accident occurred outside of El Paso, Texas. Another car crashed into her vehicle, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, as reported by TMZ on Saturday.
Lynch was one of the original members of The Dixie Chicks. She co-founded the band with Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Erwin, and Emily Erwin back in 1990.
The band, now known as The Chicks, dropped the word “Dixie” from their name in 2020. This change was in response to the Black Lives Matter Movement. They expressed their grief over Lynch’s death in a heartfelt statement on their Instagram on Saturday.
The statement read, “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks.” They shared this sentiment in a joint statement.
Laura Lynch was remembered fondly by her bandmates. They reminisced about the time they spent together, playing music, laughing, and traveling. They described Laura as a “bright light” whose “infectious energy and humor” added a spark to the early days of the band.
They continued to pay tribute to Laura’s contributions to the band. They acknowledged her gift for design, her love for all things Texas, and her instrumental role in the band’s early success.
The band also extended their thoughts to Laura’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.
Laura’s passing was also mourned by other stars. Tributes poured in on social media, including from Beyoncé and Sheryl Crow.
Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour official X account tweeted, “RIP to the beautiful Laura Lynch, founding member of The (Dixie) Chicks.” They acknowledged the band’s controversial stand against Bush and his war, and their infamous CMA Daddy Lessons Performance.
The tweet concluded with a heartfelt message, “We want to thank Laura Lynch for making moments like this possible, Rest in Peace Laura. Love and Condolences to the family ❤️❤️.”
Sheryl Crow also expressed her grief over Lynch’s death on Instagram. She wrote, “Feeling your sadness 💔.”
Fans of The Chicks also expressed their condolences on the band’s social media post. One fan wrote, “I’m so deeply sad to hear this. Sending all my love to her friends and family. She seems like she was the happiest, kindest person.”
Laura Lynch was born in Texas in 2958. She recorded three albums with the band before leaving in 1993. She was replaced by Natalie Maines two years later.
After stepping out of the spotlight, she lived a relatively private life in Mineral Wells, Texas. She was married to Mac Wells and they had a daughter, Asia.