Music Minute!

The cover of Irene Cara's 'Flashdance (What a Feeling)'.

Did you know that Irene Cara was the first black woman to win the Academy Award forBest Original Song?

Cara’s ‘Flashdance (What a Feeling)’ from the ‘Flashdance’ soundtrack won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984. That honor earned Cara the distinction of being the first black woman to achieve that feat and win an award at the ceremony beyond the acting fields.

Just 12 years prior to Cara’s accomplishment, Isaac Hayes won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1972 for ‘Theme from Shaft’. He was the first African-American to receive the title.

Watch the video for Cara’s ‘What a Feeling’ below:

Now you know!