Not too long ago, it was noted that the nominees for the "Shortlist Award for Achievement in the Field of Excellence" (tip o' the hat to Erik G. for the clever name and original post) were announced, and they were: Band of Horses, Beirut, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Cat Power, Girl Talk, Hot Chip, Joanna Newsom, Regina Spektor, Spank Rock, and Tom Waits.

Well, as Pitchfork noted this morning, the winner was announced and we can all collectively breathe a sigh of relief now that we know it was not Joanna Newsom.

Instead, the winner was the supremely de-lovely Cat Power for her album The Greatest.

In the 6-year history of the award, she is the first woman to win the award, so a very necessary, but no less sincere, congratulations is in order there.

The previous winners were:

Sufjan Stevens (2005), TV on the Radio (2004), Damien Rice (2003), NERD (2002) and Sigur Ros (2001).