Before they formed their multiplatinum Dixie Chicks trio, sisters Emily Robison (ne'e Erwin) picked banjo and Martie Seidel played fiddle in a Texas bluegrass band.  So last year, when country's Ricky Skaggs asked the Chicks (with Natalie Maines) to appear on Bill Mon, Skaggs's tribute to Bill Monroe, who died in 1996, they were more than happy to pay homage to the Father of Bluegrass.  Robison, 28, spoke about the legendary singer and mandolin player.

    Are you three lifelong fans of bluegrass?
Natalie was off listening to more country, rock and blues music.  Martie and I were listening to the Bill Monroe stuff.  My dad got my sister fiddle lessons for her 10th birthday, and she was playing in a bluegrass band that I joined when I was 12 and she was 16.
    Did you ever see Monroe play?
I was 11 years old the first time I saw him, at a small club in Dallas.  I got to sit in the front row and look up and watch his hands.  Another time we were playing at a bluegrass festival, and I saw him walking down the street.  I told him what a huge fan I was and how much he inspired me.  He just said, "Thank you very much, darling," and just kept moving right along.