Dixie Chicks, the country music trio, with particular emphasis on their lead singer, Natalie Maines, are being sued for defamation by Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of 8-year old Steve Branch, the boy brutally killed in a 1993 attack in West Memphis, Ark. However, reports say only Maines has been singled out in the court papers.

According to Hobbs, inveterate Bush-basher Maines attended a rally in 2007, held for the West Memphis Three, the three men convicted of the attack, who claim they are innocent and all evidence seems to implicate Hobbs. A letter making similar assertions has now appeared on www. dixiechicks. com, the groups' web site.

Insisting the charges are false, Hobbs, who has never been charged or implicated in the murders, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from the Dixie Chicks. Three other men were convicted for the three murders, but Maines has always been outspoken about her belief that she believes Hobbs was involved.

In the suit, Hobbs states he has lost income and reputation, over Maines' claims, which are 'so extreme in degree as to be ... atrocious and utterly intolerable.' The band could not be reached for comment.