The Dixie Chicks are already starting to see some career repercussions from their political stance.

[Update at 11:18 AM PST]

Don’t mess with Texas.

Someone over at Free Republic is reporting that the biggest country station in Lubbock (Natalie Maines’ home town) is going to have a Dixie-Chicks-Free Weekend, during which they won’t play anything by the group.

[Update at 1:34 PM PST]

Apparently they’re unhappy about it in San Antonio, too.

And KZLA, a country station in Los Angeles, is currently running a poll on the issue of whether or not they should continue to play them (no permalink). (They’re still offering specials on their albums, though.)

It’s spreading like a prairie wildfire.

[Yet another update at 2:20 PM PST]

A station in Houston is running a similar poll.

[Update at 5:30 PM PST]

Apparently Ms. Maines realizes that she really stepped in it. She’s issued a half-hearted, Trent Lott-like apology. She’s not really sorry she said it, of course–she only regrets that there are any consequences for her uttering her no-doubt heartfelt feelings (as opposed to actual thoughts).

We’ll see if it’s enough to end the boycotts. There’s no doubt that their record sales will suffer as a result, though she may have mitigated some of the damage with this pro-forma statement.

[Saturday morning update]

Well, it’s not all bad. Most C&W stations are continuing the boycott, but they’ve picked up one new venue for their music. According to this article from the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Pacifica affiliate (a so-called “progressive” radio network that makes NPR sound Republican) will start playing them “all the time.” Guess this is the first step toward finding a new audience…