Bobbie Gentry smiles with her Grammy Award.

Did you know that Bobbie Gentry was the first Country artist to win the Best New Artist title at the Grammy Awards?

Gentry put Country music in the history books at the 1968 Grammy Awards when she took home the title of Best New Artist. She was also nominated for seven other trophies that evening, including the Album of the Year (Ode to Billie Joe), Record of the Year (“Ode to Billie Joe”) and Song of the Year (“Ode to Billie Joe”), but won none of the other major categories.

However, Gentry’s “Ode to Billie Joe” did nab the Best Vocal Performance, Female (now known as Best Female Pop Vocal Performance) and Best Contemporary Female Solo Vocal Performance, defeating Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” and “A Natural Woman”, respectively. Watch her sing the song live below:

Now you know!