The story of Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks (now The Chicks), and actor Adrian Pasdar is one of initial romance, a lengthy marriage, children, and a very public divorce that played out in the media and in the band's music. Their relationship, marriage, and subsequent divorce became tabloid fodder, especially with the release of The Chicks' album "Gaslighter," which chronicled the tumultuous split.
The Beginning: A Wedding and a Spark
Maines and Pasdar's story began at a wedding - specifically, the wedding of Maines' bandmate, Emily Robison (now Emily Strayer), to her first husband, Charlie Robison, in May 1999. According to People, Pasdar was Maines' escort at the wedding. Natalie said, "We missed you last night," when she first met Adrian. Maines and Pasdar were together a little over a year; then they got married in Las Vegas. The couple married on June 24, 2000, at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
A 17-Year Marriage: Family, Career, and a Bicoastal Life
Maines and Pasdar spent 17 years together, building a life that included two sons, Jackson Slade (born in 2001) and Beckett Finn (born in 2004). They maintained homes in Los Angeles, Austin, and New York City, navigating the demands of Maines' music career and Pasdar's acting roles. Pasdar is known for his roles in Profit, Near Dark, Carlito's Way, Mysterious Ways, Desperate Housewives, Burn Notice, Heroes and as Glenn Talbot / Graviton on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
During their marriage, both artists experienced professional highs and lows. The Dixie Chicks faced significant backlash in 2003 after Maines criticized then-President George W. Bush during a London concert. Pasdar continued his acting career, appearing in various television shows and films.
The Split: Irreconcilable Differences and a Contentious Divorce
In 2017, Maines filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences." The divorce proceedings quickly became complicated, with disputes over the validity of their prenuptial agreement and financial support.
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Maines requested joint custody of their children, and the couple had a prenup for their finances. But Pasdar, who had starring roles on network TV dramas “Judging Amy” and “Heroes,” questioned the validity of their prenup and fought her on spousal support, claiming “poverty” and ultimately requesting that Maines pay him $60,000 a month. He told the court that Maines was the primary “breadwinner” and that he had sacrificed his career to care for their kids. Maines, however, claimed that their prenup stipulated that her money from the Dixie Chicks was, well, just hers.
Pasdar claimed he "does not recall the events related to the drafting and negotiation of the prenuptial agreement in 2000.” His lawyers claimed, "At present, Adrian lacks the financial resources from which to support himself and their children at a level anywhere near the marital standard.”
Maines asked a judge to bifurcate the issue of the validity of their prenup, which means that the court would decide whether or not the document is valid separately from the rest of the divorce ruling. “If the issue of the validity of the Prenuptial Agreement was bifurcated, this would allow an early disposition of most of the dissolution issues regarding property and support,” Maines writes.
The legal battle dragged on for two years, with Pasdar even attempting to block the release of new music by The Chicks, alleging that the songs violated a confidentiality clause in their prenup.
"Gaslighter": Art as a Reflection of Reality
The Chicks' 2020 album, "Gaslighter," became inextricably linked to Maines and Pasdar's divorce. The album's lyrics, penned largely by Maines, offered a raw and unflinching look at the breakdown of their marriage.
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The title track, "Gaslighter," was interpreted by many as a direct attack on Pasdar, accusing him of being a "liar" and "denier." Other songs on the album, such as "Tights on My Boat," "Sleep at Night," and "Everybody Loves You," delved into themes of infidelity, betrayal, and the struggle to forgive.
One line in particular, about a mysterious event that happened on a boat - “ ‘Cause, boy, you know exactly what you did on my boat / And, boy, that’s exactly why you ain’t comin’ home” - sparked a frenzied internet investigation. Online sleuths discovered in the midaughts, while they were married, Pasdar had purchased a boat that he named after Maines: the “Nautalee.”
The album's release fueled public interest in the divorce, with fans and media outlets dissecting the lyrics for clues about the couple's relationship. Maines, however, remained relatively tight-lipped about the specifics, citing ongoing legal disputes.
Finalization and Moving Forward
After a protracted legal battle, Maines and Pasdar's divorce was finalized on December 19, 2019. The details of the settlement remained private.
The divorce undoubtedly had a profound impact on both Maines and Pasdar. Maines channeled her experiences into her music, creating a powerful and cathartic album that resonated with many listeners. Pasdar has continued his acting career.
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Prenuptial Agreements: A Closer Look
The Maines-Pasdar divorce brought attention to the importance and complexities of prenuptial agreements. A pre-marital agreement, if properly drafted, has the benefit of defining a property settlement in the event a soon to be married couples’ marriage ends in divorce. If prepared in accordance with legal guidelines, pre-marital property agreements are enforceable.
Several factors can affect the validity of a prenuptial agreement, including:
- Duress: An agreement signed shortly before the wedding may be challenged as being signed under duress.
- Lack of Legal Counsel: If one party refuses to retain legal counsel and signs the agreement without advice, it could be problematic.
- Informed Consent: It's crucial that each party understands the terms of the agreement and is not under any medication that could impair their ability to think clearly.
The enforceability of a prospective contractual waiver of spousal support creates major challenges depending on the jurisdiction of the divorce. Of course, informed consent must be established, but what remains to be determined when a contractual waiver of support is at issue is whether the waiver was unconscionable at the time the agreement was signed. In some jurisdictions, the test is two-fold; was the waiver fair when the parties signed the agreement and is the waiver unconscionable at the time of the divorce?
To guard against some of the risks outlined in this article, it is often suggested that the signing of the agreement be videotaped and that counsel inquire and confirm that the disadvantaged spouse’s consent was informed, obtained without duress, and that there has been sufficient time to consider the terms of the agreement. Also, it is important that each party is not under any medication which would impact his or her ability to think clearly and that each party understands the terms of the agreement.