15 Facts About Emily Strayer

Emily Burns Strayer is an American songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and a founding member of the country band the Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks.

Emily Strayer's parents were both educators and nurtured the growing interest that both Emily and Martha shared, and together both sisters became proficient on several instruments while in elementary school.

Emily Strayer began playing the violin at age seven, and the banjo at age ten, afterward learning all the string instruments she could find.

Years later, Martie joked that Emily Strayer was better than she at the fiddle, and because she wanted to keep the fiddle as her instrument, she forced Emily Strayer to learn something else.

Emily Strayer responded by mastering the five string banjo, by reading books to teach herself the chord progressions.

In 1989, after years of attending bluegrass festivals and busking where they could, Emily Strayer joined her sister Martie, guitarist Robin Lynn Macy, and upright bass player Laura Lynch.

Emily Strayer was shy, and the youngest member of the group.

Emily Strayer had enjoyed playing throughout school, but was at an age where she was already entertaining thoughts of working hard to be accepted by the United States Air Force Academy.

Emily Strayer was a key element of the group's look, with her hair dyed blond to match the other two at first, and then allowing it to return to her natural brunette color, and distinguishing herself visually from the other two.

Emily Strayer's songwriting has been a factor in the Chicks' recording career.

Emily Strayer was the only bandmate to realize that - while in the UK, there was a big anti-war sentiment in the audience - back in the United States, Maines' criticism of President Bush would not be well received.

Emily Strayer spent at least half of her life busking and touring nearly non-stop since high school, first with her older sister, and then with the changing lineups of the Dixie Chicks.

When Emily Strayer's marriage came to an end, she began expressing herself by songwriting.

Emily Strayer wrote all but one of the songs on their album.

Emily Strayer became romantically involved with Martin Strayer while composing the Court Yard Hounds album.