Martie Maguire

Martie Maguire, born Martha Elenor Erwin on October 12, 1969 in York, Pennsylvania, is an American musician whose multi‑instrumental talents helped shape modern country‑rock. From the age of five she studied violin under her parents' encouragement, and by twelve she was learning fiddle style, laying a foundation for a career that would span more than three decades. In high school she co‑founded the bluegrass quartet Blue Night Express with her sister Emily and friends Troy and Sharon Gilchrist, touring regionally for five years and winning second place at the National Fiddle Championships in 1987. After a brief stint at Southwestern University, she and Emily joined Robin Lynn Macy, Laura Lynch and later Natalie Maines to form the Dixie Chicks in 1989, initially a bluegrass act that evolved into a chart‑topping country‑rock trio. As the group's primary fiddle player, arranger, and co‑songwriter, Martie contributed hits such as “Cowboy Take Me Away,” “Ready to Run,” and “You Were Mine,” earning multiple Grammy Awards, two Diamond and two Platinum albums, and a reputation for outspoken political stands during the 2003 controversy. In 2010 she and Emily launched the side project Court Yard Hounds, extending their harmonic blend into a new duo format while continuing to record and tour. Martie's personal life includes three marriages—first to pharmaceutical representative Ted Seidel (1995‑1999), then to Irish teacher Gareth Maguire (2001‑2013), and most recently to Clem Moore (2022)—and the birth of three daughters through in‑vitro fertilization, a subject she has spoken about publicly to reduce stigma. Beyond performing, she has contributed fiddle parts to artists such as Don Henley and The Flatlanders, and has been recognized by BMI as Songwriter of the Year in 2000, cementing her legacy as a versatile and influential figure in contemporary American music.