The Courtyard Hounds is a country music duo founded by sisters Martie Maguire & Emily Strayer. They released an album for Columbia Records on May 4, 2010 which is the same label as the The Chicks. The Court Yard Hounds formed in 2009. Martie & Emily wanted to return to the studio to record as The Chicks but Natalie Maines wasn’t ready.
Emily is the lead vocalist of the Court Yard Hounds. Their debut album was recorded in Martie Maguire’s home studio . Their second album Amelita was released o July 16, 2013 In 2015, the The Chicks announced a tour of Europe & North America, their first tour in years.