Country music fans were saddened last week to learn that The Chicks founding member Laura Lynch passed away.

NPR reported that Lynch died this past Friday as a result of a car accident in El Paso according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Lynch was raised on a farm before pursuing a career in music

The 65-year-old musician was traveling east on US 62 in her 2016 Ford F-150 when it collided head-on with another vehicle. While the other driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Lynch was pronounced dead at the scene.

The New York Times noted that Lynch was raised on a farm in before going on to become one of four women to create what was then known as the Dixie Chicks in 1988.

In addition to Lynch, the group's original lineup consisted of Robin Lynn Macy along with sisters Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire.

Macy left the band in 1992 after the release of its first two albums, "Thank Heavens for Dale Evans" in 1990 and "Little Ol’ Cowgirl" in 1992.

Singer Natalie Maines replaced Lynch in 1995

"Our brand of cowgirl music is a mixture of old-time country music, bluegrass music, acoustic," the Times quoted Lynch as saying in a 1992 interview.

"We all sing three-part and four-part harmony. We throw in some instrumentals, some country swing. That’s our brand of cowgirl music," she added

Lynch was fired from the band three years later and replaced by singer Natalie Maines, who remains in the group until today.

She subsequently became a public relations officer with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Chicks praise Lynch for having been "a bright light" with "infectious energy"

Tributes to Lynch were quickly posted on social media, including from the musical group that she helped to establish.

The Chicks released put out a statement that praised Lynch as being "a bright light" whose "infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band."

1/2 Laura was a bright light…her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band. pic.twitter.com/Q2WsqF5miM

— The Chicks (@thechicks) December 23, 2023

The statement went on to recall how Lynch "had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas, and was instrumental in the early success of the band."