Onstage, their songs may be as sweet as Southern springtime, but offstage the Dixie Chicks just can't seem to get it right.

After stirring up anger from country music's patriotic fan base with a remark slamming President Bush, the Chicks are now in trouble at the other end of the political spectrum in a dustup with animal activist group PETA -- the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

But this time don't blame the girls: It seems it's their management company that's taking the heat. The twangy, Texas-based trio -- Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire -- posed in a field of flowers for one of PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" advertisements, apparently clad in nothing but a few strategically placed instruments, reports MSNBC.

But Chicks managers got wind of the PETA plan and killed the ad, even trying to pay PETA $10,000 to pretend the whole thing never happened, MSNBC reports.

The activists weren't buying, though: "They are the Dixie Chicks, not the Stepford Wives," a PETA spokesman told MSNBC. "Agree with them or not, this trio became a phenomenon because they have country hearts with modern sensibilities and aren't afraid to voice their views. And we hope that one day they'll let us release this ad."

The brouhaha marks the second time in recent weeks that the Chicks have run into trouble for their progressive politics. Earlier this month, frontwoman Maines apologized after her remark at a London concert -- "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas" -- drew a firestorm of criticism, with a fan backlash and radio boycotts.