You have to hand it to country music’s Dixie Chicks: they know how to keep a secret.

“We get a kick out of keeping people guessing about what we’re going to do next and that includes our music videos,” group member Martie Seidel explained to the press recently.

Along with her sister Emily Robison and friend Natalie Maines, Seidel makes up the one of the industry’s most popular modern music groups.

With a versatile sound that’s all their own and mysterious attitudes to match, the Dixie Chicks take center stage on Country Music Television this month as the network’s chosen Showcase Artists.

Ask what to expect from the group during their stint; the response is typical Chicks lingo.

“We’re putting extra salt into our CMT Showcase” episodes, so tune in if you’re brave enough,” Seidel said.

The network, a subsidiary of CBS Cable, will feature the multiple-Grammy Award-winning group in an exclusive series of in-depth interviews throughout September. The CMT honor coincides with the release of the Chicks’ new album, “Fly.” The release comes on the heels of the group’s smash hit album, “Wide Open Spaces.” That one sold more than six million copies, making it the top-selling album of all time by a country group.

Chances are good that “Fly” is headed in the same direction.

The Dixie Chicks have an incredible story to tell, and they begin the interview with the band’s formation in 1989 by sisters Martie and Emily. Over the course of the month, they’ll continue their story to bring viewers up to speed with their present record-breaking success, according to Chris Parr.

“This group does it all,” said Parr, the network’s programming director. “They make cutting-edge videos, sing, play, and write music in their unique style — and CMT viewers love them.”

Different episodes of the Showcase series will be telecast each Friday at 11:30 p.m., with repeats the Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday following their debut.

Shortly after their first video, “I Can Love You Better,” hit airwaves, CMT designated the Dixie Chicks as one of its Rising Video Stars. Their first four music videos shot straight into the top position on the weekly CMT Top 12 Countdown. And in the network’s 1998 countdown, they were named CMT Rising Video Star Of The Year. The group’s streak of success stretched even further when “There’s Your Trouble” finished in fourth place for last year’s yop videos.

The Dixie Chicks went on to win two Grammy Awards — one for Best Country Album — two Country Music Association Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards, and two TNN Music City News Country Awards.

Fans also helped them become country music’s biggest selling new act of 1998.