Founding Dixie Chicks member Laura Lynch was killed in a car crash on Friday evening in West Texas aged 65, her cousin has confirmed on CBS news.

In a joint statement issued immediately after the news broke, other members of the US country band — Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire — said they were shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Lynch.

Sharing a clip from their live performance of the song West Texas Wind, the joint statement published on the group’s social media talks about the time they spent together as a group “playing music, laughing and traveling together”.

“Laura was a bright light…her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band,” it states before going on to recall how the late singer-bass player had helped immensely in the early success of the band.

“Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this sad time. - Emily, Martie & Natalie,” the note ends.

Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy founded Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, in 1989. After Macy’s departure in 1993, Lynch emerged as the lead singer of the country group. However, she left Dixie Chicks in 1995 and was replaced by Natalie Maines as the band’s new lead vocalist.