Bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid is taking her storytelling talents to the stage. Known for turning complex female characters and musical nostalgia into literary gold, Reid is now working on a jukebox musical inspired by The Chicks — using the iconic track Goodbye Earl as the story’s foundation and the trio’s discography as its heart.
A musical born from a country anthem
During a recent interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Taylor Jenkins Reid, 41, revealed her next creative adventure: a Broadway jukebox musical based on Goodbye Earl, the darkly humorous revenge anthem by The Chicks. “We’re taking the story of Goodbye Earl, and we are making that a jukebox musical with all the discography of The Chicks,” she told Clarkson.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/the-chicks-Emily-Strayer-Natalie-Maines-Martie-Maguire-061225-29455b6bd85547afb851f410d3dd7452.jpg)
The idea struck Reid in a flash of inspiration while driving. “I was like, ‘This could be its own story,’” she explained, “and what if you use the songs of The Chicks to tell that story?” The moment quickly evolved into action when Reid called a Broadway-savvy friend — a “fanatic,” as she described him — to pitch the concept.
Clarkson was quick to celebrate the idea on-air, calling The Chicks’ catalog “insane” and expressing excitement for the potential on stage. It’s not hard to see why: the group, formerly known as The Dixie Chicks, has a deep and emotionally rich songbook that spans heartbreak, defiance, resilience, and joy — perfect material for musical theater.
Confirmed hits and fan-favorite songs
As the conversation continued, Clarkson made sure to ask the question on every fan’s mind: Will Cowboy Take Me Away, one of The Chicks’ most beloved songs, be in the musical? Reid didn’t hesitate. “Let me assure you, it will,” she confirmed, putting any doubts to rest for longtime fans of the group and musical lovers alike.
The project taps into the current appetite for female-centered stories and nostalgic music — a formula that has already worked well for Reid. She’s the bestselling author behind Daisy Jones & The Six, now a hit TV series on Amazon Prime Video, and Carrie Soto Is Back, which is being adapted for Netflix by none other than tennis legend Serena Williams.
Although she’s venturing into a new medium, Reid brings the same character-driven approach and sharp emotional storytelling that made her novels so widely adored. With Goodbye Earl as the musical’s foundation — a tale of friendship and revenge — there’s bound to be plenty of grit, wit, and country spirit.
Writing books first, musicals second
While Reid is clearly excited about her latest theatrical endeavor, she made it clear that her heart still belongs to the page. Speaking with PEOPLE recently, she said, “I’m incredibly privileged to be able to produce some of these adaptations,” referring to her novels being turned into TV shows and films. “But the majority of my time in my day is writing books that I’m proud of.”
Her latest novel, Atmosphere, released on June 3, is set during the 1980s Space Shuttle program — another example of Reid’s signature style of embedding female stories within rich historical backdrops. Despite her ventures into Hollywood and now Broadway, she remains rooted in the medium where she first found her passion. “It was books where I knew I had found it,” she said. “And that has not changed.”
Whether she’s crafting fictional rock bands, space-race heroines, or jukebox musicals about country justice, Reid continues to reimagine how stories are told — and who gets to tell them. With The Chicks-themed musical on the horizon, theatergoers can expect a bold, heartfelt, and possibly rebellious production that stays true to Reid’s knack for bringing powerful women to center stage.
