Driven...

The Dixie Chicks are in the Driver's Seat for the Third Season Debut of Acclaimed VH1 Series, 'Driven' Tuesday, November 19 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT)
11/12/02 12:16 PM
Source: PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- They came from different worlds, a variety of backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles, but somehow The Dixie Chicks, Halle Berry, Whitney Houston, Enrique Iglesias, Pink and Lil' Kim all ended up on the same pedestal of stardom and fame.

"Driven" brings the music world's biggest icons' unknown pasts to life with video footage and photos that the public has never seen, plus interviews with those special people who played integral roles in their development as artists and individuals, providing a rare glimpse at what they were really like. The hugely successful VH1 series continues with a season of all-new episodes, kicking off with "Driven: The Dixie Chicks" on Tuesday, November 19 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT), followed by more episodes premiering every Tuesday at the same time. Halle Berry debuts on November 26, followed by Whitney Houston (December 3), Enrique Iglesias (December 10), Pink (December 17) and Lil' Kim (December 24).

There's no such thing as overnight success -- over time, like a jigsaw puzzle, pieces are added, small breakthroughs are made, and eventually the picture of a pop star begins to take shape. "Driven" traces that process from childhood to the first glimmer of stardom, through the eyes of those who knew the artist best and helped play pivotal roles in their development -- teachers, family members, friends, and creative partners. With each episode of "Driven" dedicated to a single artist, the show looks at the stars' blueprints for success and what propelled them to achieve it despite the obstacles that lay in their paths.

On November 19, "Driven: The Dixie Chicks" follows the evolution of the "chicks" from a talented kid's band playing blue grass, through two major "Dixie Chicks" lineup changes and then into the incarnation of what we know today as the hugely successful Dixie Chicks. And shedding light on the group's early years are new interviews with their parents and family members, friends, teachers, former band members, producers and managers, among others.

Highlights of "Driven: The Dixie Chicks" include:

Alan Hendrix, Natalie's elementary school teacher: "You could always hear Natalie, over everybody else. She just was a natural-born performer. "

Martie and Emily's sister Julie Erwin, on her sister's first group Blue Night Express: "They got 'Oh, they're so cute. Oh how cute.' And then they'd start to play and people would just sort of look at each other, and say, 'Wow, these kids can play.' "

Laura Lynch, former Dixie Chick: "We were all just tap-dancing on our pedestal. And then I had my face in the mud ... It was, again, the majority rules thing. And, two to one was what the vote was, and that was the end of that."

Steve Maines, Natalie's uncle: "There was that connection between the three girls. You could see a renewed excitement in Martie and Emily, and Natalie was right there leading the pack."

Dixie Chick manager Simon Renshaw: " ... I just said, 'Done deal.' And there was this like screaming of joy in the background, and I hung up. And that was it. The deal with Sony was on. And it was time to move ahead."

Paul Lohr, former booking agent: "The girls celebrate success like any young lady would. They take a shot and get a tattoo."

Viewers can go online to VH1.com and check out a photo flipbook of rare photos, exclusive video clips of "Driven" subjects in their early days, plus additional features and info on all the artists included in the series.

"Driven" is a production of VH1. Executive Producers, Michael Hirschorn, Shelly Tatro, Suzanne Ross; Producer, Series Development, Beth Melillo.

MTV Networks owns and operates the cable television programming services MTV: Music Television, MTV2, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, TV Land, VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, and TNN, as well as The Digital Suite from MTV Networks, a package of thirteen digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

NEWSFILE: 12 NOVEMBER 2002