Musgraves Sweeps ‘Nashville Scene’ Critics Poll

It’s no surprise that critical darling Kacey Musgraves swept the Nashville Scene’s 14th annual Country Music Critics’ Poll. The results are out in today’s (Jan. 23) issue of the alternative weekly newspaper, and show Musgraves winning Artist of the Year, New Artist, Album, Singles Artist, and Female Vocalist. Musgraves was also a big winner at the industry-voted 2013 MusicRow Awards.

In the survey led by Geoffrey Himes, the Scene polled 98 music critics from outlets across the nation including the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone and Country Weekly.

Right behind Musgraves in all five categories were Brandy Clark and Ashley Monroe. According to the Scene, it was an unprecedented sweep by three artists releasing their first nationally distributed albums. It’s interesting to note that female singer-songwriters dominated critics’ lists, while males continue to dominate radio airwaves.

Taylor Swift was voted Best Live Act, Pistol Annies was named Best Group, and Jason Isbell earned Best Male Vocalist. Shane McAnally, who has received notable national attention, is the only non-artist who made the best Songwriters list. [Given Nashville’s bounty of talented tunesmiths, perhaps that ranking should be reserved for songwriters who aren’t artists.]

In an hourlong special today at 9 a.m. Central (and again on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 9 a.m./8 a.m. Central), CMT and host Katie Cook will count down the poll’s Top 10 Country Singles of 2013.