1/24/2008 Stephen L. Betts In the just-released Nashville Scene newspaper's 8th Annual Country Music Critics’ Poll, Miranda Lambert earned Best Album (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Best Single (“Famous in a Small Town”), Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. (You’ll recall she also topped my own list of the year’s best releases). Also, in a Scene feature titled “Blond Ambition,” music journalist Geoffrey Himes examines the critical vs. commercial success Miranda had this past year in comparison to the multi-platinum-selling Carrie Underwood. He also explores the “Emmylou Harris Factor” – offering evidence of the significant influence Emmylou had over the music in this year’s poll.
