What is happening to my brothers and sisters in country music? For the second time in as many weeks, disparaging remarks have come from Music Row.

Last week, singer Trace Adkins was slamming Hispanics and the fact that government money was being spent in order to accommodate the language barrier. This week, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines rose up against one of her own as she criticized the lyrics of Toby Keith’s controversial response to the terrorist attacks last year.

If you have either been under a rock for the last several months or simply do not listen to country music, Keith’s song includes a line concerning retaliation and an anatomical impossibility. More specifically, he mentions placing footwear where the sun doesn’t shine, and folks, he ain’t talking about under the porch.

Now whether Keith is telling us how he truly feels or if he’s just trying to spark controversy to generate sales, I don’t know. My guess is that it’s probably a bit of both. Regardless, critics have lined up to take shots at the singer. Maines is simply the latest.

In the radio interview, she called the song “ignorant” and mentioned the word hate. She said the song targets an entire culture and that it’s “embarrassing” to country music.

For the record, I like the song. I admit to sharing the same feelings as Keith and the rest of the country last year as we watched those buildings come down. I respect every writer of every song concerning that tragic day, from Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You” to Ray Stevens’ tongue-in-cheek bit about the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

As far as Keith’s song is concerned, that little three-letter word has not caused me to lose an ounce of sleep.

I do, however, have a problem with Maines’ derogatory comments, especially the use of the words ignorant and embarrassing. If I could, I’d have to ask her who she thinks she is?

I admit to being a fan of the Dixie Chicks. I enjoy their music. But this a group, that in the past, has bathed in controversy. Remember that song about “Earl?” It drew attention to spousal abuse and then touted vigilantism as a solution to the problem.

On that same CD is a song called “Sin Wagon” which includes lines with the words “mattress dancing” and going to heaven with “feet draggin’.”

Now this isn’t exactly R-rated stuff either, but I’m sure there are some who think those references are inappropriate.

I’m neither promoting nor defending the use of bad language or sexual innuendoes in the arts and entertainment industry. I just don’t care much for hypocrites.