Laura Lynch, one of the founding members of the Dixie Chicks, has died in a car crash aged 65.
Her cousin Mick Lynch told showbiz news outlet TMZ she was driving outside El Paso, Texas, at the time of the collision on Friday.
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that Lynch died on Friday after being involved in a two-vehicle collision.
The bassist formed the American country group along with sisters Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire, and Robin Lynn Macy in 1989.
The band – made up of Natalie Maines, Strayer and Maguire since 1995 – changed their name to The Chicks in 2020 following criticism of the use of the word Dixie, which often refers to the southern states of the US that broke away around 1860 to form the new Confederate States of America.
They said in a post on X: “Laura was a bright light…her infectious energy and humour 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.
“Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this sad time.”
