This was the Dixie Chicks’ year at the Grammy Awards: the controversial group left the event with a victorious five awards.

Appearances are indeed deceiving and those who might’ve thought there would be no more success for the Dixie Chicks have been proven wrong. The singing trio won five awards, and not minor ones at that.

The Dixie Chicks took home the awards for album of the year, record of the year, and, how funny fate is, best country album, this Sunday in Los Angeles.

“Not Ready to Make Nice� brought them Song of the Year honor. “Thank you for sticking by me,� Dixie Chick Natalie Maines said. Her criticism of President George W. Bush during the lead-up to the war in Iraq was deeply controversial and even cost the girls fans. “We are very, very appreciative and honored.�

Bandmate Emily Robison noted, “We wouldn't have done this album without everything we went through, so we have no regrets.�

Other contenders in the category were Mary J. Blige with “Be without You,� Carrie Underwood with “Jesus, Take the Wheel,� Corinne Bailey Rae with “Put Your Records On� and James Blunt with “You're Beautiful.�

This comes after the three singers faced some pretty nasty rejection due to Natalie’s outspoken opposition of George W. Bush’s political initiatives. They were even rejected by country radio and the band became somewhat of a pariah.

As former Grateful Dead member Mickey Hart told Reuters, “I think people are paranoid. I think that if they speak out, they think they're going to get whacked by the government. It's pretty oppressive now. Look at the Dixie Chicks. They got whacked.�

Not on Grammy night though. After going through decreasing sales figures and public renunciation from fans, they did receive some support. As time passed, more and more people started questioning the war in Iraq and the Dixie Chicks found they spoke a common language with others.

Natalie Maines and her two bandmates, sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire, teamed up with rock producer Rick Rubin to make what critics described as the strongest album of their career. Grammy awards stand proof.