Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks have been ready to make more music for a while, but lead singer Natalie Maines isn't.

Maguire told Rolling Stone: “Emily and I had the itch, and every time we’d call Natalie and say ‘are you ready?’ she wasn’t ready. She wanted a clear-cut break.”

Robison and Maguire aren't waiting for Maines any longer and have decided to record new music without her. The sisters are calling themselves Court Yard Hounds (a reference to the novel City of Thieves) and Robison is stepping up as lead singer.

Recorded mostly at Maguire’s home studio in Austin, the intimate pop-folk album features songs inspired by Robison's recent divorce from country musician Charlie Robison.

The duo will debut their new band at South by Southwest in March. The album will be released in May and will follow with a tour.

Personally, I hope this isn't the end of the Dixie Chicks. I don't see these two creating some of the more rock inspired tunes that Maines brought to the table. But at least they had the courtesy not to go on without her as the Dixie Chicks.

The duo said this isn't the end of the Dixie Chicks, but also added that they rarely see Maines, who lives in L.A.

“I’m hoping she’ll come out to one of our shows,” Maguire said. “Maybe it’ll inspire her to want to do music again.”

Get more info. and a preview of the music here: www.courtyardhounds.com