The veteran star picked up the Canadian album award last month (Sep15) for Power in the Blood - and it came with a CAN$50,000 ($38,000) cheque.

Sainte-Marie has already decided what to spend the cash on.

"I'm upgrading my studio," she tells Rolling Stone. "The money that an artist spends these days touring is prohibitive; the airlines are just killing us... I thought I might make some money touring, but it turns out I didn't, and I spent it all on hotels and airfare and stuff. It was very well-spent, and I'm glad I did it, but I have to upgrade my studio because it's old and has been through some hurricanes.

"I'm going to be giving some money to a couple of animal charities, and some of the money is going to women's and children's health organisations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (Canada), and, of course, some family gifts."