Sure, being recognized as Canada's best female artist at last Sunday's Juno ceremonies was a big deal for Calgary's Jann Arden.

But that wasn't the highlight of her night.

"I got into the party that Nelly Furtado didn't, so I'm even a bigger winner," Arden jokes, referring to the much-publicized faux pas that saw big Juno winner Furtado locked out of her record company's celebration party.

"That's what happens when you're a new artist -- they don't recognize you and they don't give a (damn) who you say you are.

"But with me, they see me and they're thinking, 'Oh, there she is, that institution of Canadian ... soul.' "

The only question remains: Was the party that good?

"No, it was stupid," Arden says. "I just sat there on a bench for an hour, had a soda water and kept remarking to myself how tired I was."

As for the award itself, the singer-songwriter says she's still trying to come to terms with what it really means.

"I'm very humbled by it ...," she says.

"It's vindicating in some ways because I don't sell nine million records and I'm a moderate artist and I'm not 20 years old and I'm not a sex kitten.

"As far as what people's perceptions are of pop music, I'm really astounded that the industry kind of went, 'Yeah, she's good at what she does.' "