# Top of the World Tour

The Top of the World Tour was the 2003 concert tour by American country music trio Dixie Chicks. It was in support of their album Home, and named after the song "Top of the World" on that album.

## History

The tour began with three promotional concerts in Europe and Australia. During the first of these on March 10, 2003, at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, Natalie Maines made her controversial remarks criticizing President George W. Bush a few days before the start of the Iraq War: "Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas." The backdrop to this statement was the large protests in Britain against the impending war.
The first leg of the tour then took place in North America, running from the beginning of May to mid-August. The Bush controversy and a comment against a Toby Keith song resulted in the state of South Carolina not wanting to let the band in. Natalie Maines stated, "These fans paid their hard earned money to see us play, and we will give them the show they paid to see!" The concert went on. The second leg took place in Western Europe in September, followed by a brief third leg in Australia that finished in early October. A couple of concerts back in the United States finished the tour.
The tour grossed $60.5 million, making it the highest grossing country music tour up until that time (since superseded by several artists). It was also the 8th highest-grossing tour of any genre in 2003.
The live album Top of the World Tour: Live and DVD Top of the World Tour: Live document the tour — both are composed of performances from multiple shows. Dressing room and on-stage scenes from the tour, as well as the effect of Maines' controversial statement on the venture, were included in the 2006 documentary Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing.

## The show

The multi-tiered in-the-round stage was a feat of engineering complete with shifting hydraulic-lift levels, winding catwalks and walkways that extended over the heads of the audience. It weighed over 80,000 pounds and took up most of the arena floor. A crew of 120 traveled in thirteen busses and seventeen trucks. This show included the largest touring video show, with 1.5 million LED lights displaying graphics on video screens and on the floor of the stage. During the show, artificial flowers, grass, trees and a windmill sprung up from underneath the stage. It took over 2000 amps of power and 240 pounds of CO$_2$ gas to run the special effects for each show.
Recorded pre-show music included "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?", "Band on the Run", "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)", and "Born in the U.S.A.".
During the show the three singers used headset microphones and were frequently well apart from each other. Nevertheless, stage patter was fairly frequent, with a notable case of Martie Maguire confessing that her rather unusual clothing assemblage made her look like "Crack whore Barbie". A new addition to the group's repertoire was a long, churning rendition of Bob Dylan's travelphobic "Mississippi".
In the opening U.S. show, Natalie offered fans 15 seconds to boo, in reference of the controversy surrounding the tour. However, after a count of three, there was thunderous applause instead.

## Opening acts

* Joan Osborne (North America, Spring 2003) Start-Philadelphia
* Michelle Branch (North America, Summer 2003)
* Jann Arden (Canada, August 2003)
* The Thorns (Europe, Australia)

## Set list

The following songs were performed during the concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It does not represent all songs performed on tour.
* "Goodbye Earl"
* "Some Days You Gotta Dance"
* "There's Your Trouble"
* "Long Time Gone"
* "Tortured, Tangled Hearts"
* "Travelin' Soldier
* "Am I The Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way)"
* "Hello Mr. Heartache"
* "Cold Day in July"
* "White Trash Wedding"
* "Lil' Jack Slade"
* "A Home"
* "Truth No. 2"
* "If I Fall You're Going Down with Me"
* "Mississippi"
* "Cowboy Take Me Away"
* "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)"
* "Landslide"
* "Ready To Run"
* "Wide Open Spaces"

### Encore

* "Top of the World"
* "Sin Wagon"

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Tickets Sold / Available | Revenue |
| North America ||||||
| May 1, 2003 | Greenville | United States | BI-LO Center | 14,811 / 14,811 | $855,146 |
| May 3, 2003 | Orlando | United States | TD Waterhouse Centre | 15,726 / 15,726 | $872,525 |
| May 4, 2003 | Sunrise | United States | Office Depot Center | 15,470 / 17,924 | $927,560 |
| May 5, 2003 | Tampa | United States | St. Pete Times Forum | 15,535 / 17,969 | $953,993 |
| May 7, 2003 | Knoxville | United States | Thompson–Boling Arena | 18,521 / 18,521 | $1,084,740 |
| May 8, 2003 | Indianapolis | United States | Conseco Fieldhouse | 15,878 / 15,878 | $927,085 |
| May 10, 2003 | Kansas City | United States | Kemper Arena | 17,890 / 17,973 | $1,047,310 |
| May 11, 2003 | St. Louis | United States | Savvis Center | 18,029 / 18,449 | $1,072,595 |
| May 13, 2003 | Ames | United States | Hilton Coliseum | 13,845 / 13,845 | $805,680 |
| May 14, 2003 | Moline | United States | The MARK of the Quad Cities | 10,476 / 10,476 | $611,310 |
| May 16, 2003 | Birmingham | United States | BJCC Arena | — | — |
| May 17, 2003 | Greensboro | United States | Greensboro Coliseum | — | — |
| May 18, 2003 | Louisville | United States | Freedom Hall | 16,894 / 16,894 | $996,970 |
| May 20, 2003 | Oklahoma City | United States | Ford Center | 16,992 / 16,992 | $1,001,425 |
| May 21, 2003 | Austin | United States | Frank Erwin Center | 14,769 / 14,769 | $828,925 |
| May 29, 2003 | Chicago | United States | United Center | 36,500 / 36,500 | $2,213,900 |
| May 30, 2003 | Chicago | United States | United Center | 36,500 / 36,500 | $2,213,900 |
| June 2, 2003 | Auburn Hills | United States | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 35,389 / 35,389 | $2,110,958 |
| June 3, 2003 | Auburn Hills | United States | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 35,389 / 35,389 | $2,110,958 |
| June 5, 2003 | Milwaukee | United States | Bradley Center | 17,364 / 17,364 | $1,032,690 |
| June 6, 2003 | Saint Paul | United States | Xcel Energy Center | 39,636 / 39,636 | $2,152,655 |
| June 7, 2003 | Saint Paul | United States | Xcel Energy Center | 39,636 / 39,636 | $2,152,655 |
| June 9, 2003 | Cincinnati | United States | U.S. Bank Arena | 15,546 / 16,800 | $950,300 |
| June 10, 2003 | Columbus | United States | Nationwide Arena | 17,498 / 17,498 | $1,026,200 |
| June 11, 2003 | Cleveland | United States | Gund Arena | 16,252 / 19,769 | $968,265 |
| June 13, 2003 | Buffalo | United States | HSBC Arena | 18,102 / 18,102 | $1,054,685 |
| June 14, 2003 | Pittsburgh | United States | Mellon Arena | 16,276 / 16,276 | $871,090 |
| June 16, 2003 | Philadelphia | United States | First Union Center | 36,058 / 36,058 | $2,431,384 |
| June 17, 2003 | Philadelphia | United States | First Union Center | 36,058 / 36,058 | $2,431,384 |
| June 19, 2003 | Boston | United States | FleetCenter | 16,850 / 16,850 | $1,111,390 |
| June 20, 2003 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden | — | — |
| June 21, 2003 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden | — | — |
| June 23, 2003 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum | — | — |
| June 25, 2003 | Washington, D.C. | United States | MCI Center | 34,155 / 34,155 | $2,063,455 |
| June 26, 2003 | Washington, D.C. | United States | MCI Center | 34,155 / 34,155 | $2,063,455 |
| June 27, 2003 | Albany | United States | Pepsi Arena | 14,691 / 14,691 | $884,635 |
| July 6, 2003 | Dallas | United States | American Airlines Center | 16,704 / 16,704 | $1,011,720 |
| July 8, 2003 | Denver | United States | Pepsi Center | 16,034 / 16,034 | $964,820 |
| July 9, 2003 | Salt Lake City | United States | Delta Center | 15,435 / 15,435 | $929,425 |
| July 11, 2003 | Vancouver | Canada | General Motors Place | 17,429 / 17,429 | $1,060,338 |
| July 12, 2003 | Seattle | United States | KeyArena | 13,484 / 13,484 | $787,220 |
| July 13, 2003 | Portland | United States | Rose Garden Arena | 17,857 / 17,857 | $1,071,345 |
| July 15, 2003 | Oakland | United States | The Arena in Oakland | 17,072 / 17,072 | $1,047,651 |
| July 16, 2003 | San Jose | United States | HP Pavilion | 16,977 / 16,977 | $999,300 |
| July 17, 2003 | Sacramento | United States | ARCO Arena | 15,006 / 15,006 | $862,535 |
| July 19, 2003 | Los Angeles | United States | Staples Center | 15,609 / 15,609 | $889,285 |
| July 20, 2003 | Anaheim | United States | Arrowhead Pond | 29,985 / 29,985 | $1,866,945 |
| July 21, 2003 | Anaheim | United States | Arrowhead Pond | 29,985 / 29,985 | $1,866,945 |
| July 23, 2003 | San Diego | United States | Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl | 11,168 / 11,168 | $723,021 |
| July 25, 2003 | Phoenix | United States | America West Arena | 15,984 / 15,984 | $965,950 |
| July 26, 2003 | Las Vegas | United States | MGM Grand Garden Arena | 22,098 / 22,098 | $1,845,845 |
| July 27, 2003 | Las Vegas | United States | MGM Grand Garden Arena | 22,098 / 22,098 | $1,845,845 |
| July 29, 2003 | San Antonio | United States | SBC Center | 14,965 / 14,965 | $857,275 |
| July 30, 2003 | Houston | United States | Compaq Center | 14,700 / 14,700 | $884,964 |
| August 1, 2003 | North Little Rock | United States | Alltel Arena | 16,790 / 16,790 | $998,500 |
| August 2, 2003 | Memphis | United States | Pyramid Arena | 18,745 / 18,745 | $1,112,664 |
| August 3, 2003 | Atlanta | United States | Philips Arena | 17,101 / 17,101 | $1,001,135 |
| August 4, 2003 | Nashville | United States | Gaylord Entertainment Center | 15,696 / 15,696 | $921,730 |
| August 6, 2003 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre | 17,470 / 17,470 | $1,031,779 |
| August 7, 2003 | Ottawa | Canada | Corel Centre | — | — |
| August 8, 2003 | Hamilton | Canada | Copps Coliseum | — | — |
| August 12, 2003 | Edmonton | Canada | Skyreach Centre | 12,590 / 12,590 | $732,590 |
| August 13, 2003 | Calgary | Canada | Pengrowth Saddledome | 13,442 / 13,442 | $850,800 |
| Europe ||||||
| September 6, 2003 | Stockholm | Sweden | Annexet | — | — |
| September 8, 2003 | Hamburg | Germany | CCH Hall 1 | — | — |
| September 10, 2003 | Birmingham | England | NEC Arena | — | — |
| September 11, 2003 | Manchester | England | Carling Apollo Manchester | — | — |
| September 14, 2003 | London | England | Royal Albert Hall | 7,022 / 7,216 | $323,270 |
| September 15, 2003 | London | England | Royal Albert Hall | 7,022 / 7,216 | $323,270 |
| September 18, 2003 | Dublin | Ireland | Point Theatre | — | — |
| September 19, 2003 | Glasgow | Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre | — | — |
| September 21, 2003 | Munich | Germany | Olympiahalle | — | — |
| September 22, 2003 | Frankfurt | Germany | Jahrhunderthalle | — | — |
| Australia ||||||
| September 28, 2003 | Melbourne | Australia | Rod Laver Arena | — | — |
| September 29, 2003 | Melbourne | Australia | Rod Laver Arena | — | — |
| October 1, 2003 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | — | — |
| October 2, 2003 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | — | — |
| October 4, 2003 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Super Dome | — | — |
| October 5, 2003 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre | — | — |
| North America ||||||
| October 10, 2003 | Charlotte | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre | — | — |
| October 12, 2003 | Washington, D.C. | United States | MCI Center | 11,102 / 12,200 | $896,827 |

### Festivals and other miscellaneous performances

    $^A$ Recording Artists Coalition Benefit

### Cancellations and rescheduled shows

| June 2, 2003 | Cleveland, Ohio | Gund Arena | Rescheduled to June 11, 2003 |
| June 12, 2003 | Toronto, Canada | Air Canada Centre | Rescheduled to August 6, 2003 |

## Backing band

There may have been minor changes to this lineup depending on the venue.
* Roscoe Beck – bass
* John Deaderick – keyboards
* John Gardner – drums
* David Grissom – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
* John Mock – pennywhistle, concertina, percussion, guitar and more.
* Brent Truitt – mandolin
* Robbie Turner – steel guitar
* Keith Sewell – acoustic guitar
* Timothy S. Wright - Bass,Upright,Keyboards,Pedal Steel & Dobro Tech