In an interview conducted with Howard Stern on his SiriusXM radio show, lead Dixie Chick Natalie Maines gave a bleak and-for fans-disappointing vision for the band’s future.

“I just don’t feel it’s the Dixie Chicks’ time,” Maines said in the interview, “I feel like things were tainted permanently.” 

Most of you know what “tainted” things for Maines and co.: the popular country trio has been under fire from many country music fans, publications and artists following Maines’ controversial statements made in 2003 about then-President George W. Bush. Since the incident, Maines was subject to boycotts on country radio and the occasional death threat. Despite this, the group’s 2003 tour was still a rousing success, but the following tour saw the group playing to half-empty arenas.

Maines was quick to note that she was “still in the Dixie Chicks,” and the group will be performing at a few festivals this summer. In the meantime, though, Maines has been focusing on starting a solo career; her debut album, the Ben Harper-produced Mother, comes out on May 7th of this year.