KPop Demon Hunters' 'Golden' Creates Grammy History as First K-Pop Winner
The animated sensation KPop Demon Hunters continues its remarkable awards season dominance, with its hit soundtrack 'Golden' achieving a groundbreaking milestone at the 68th annual Grammy Awards. The song has become the first-ever K-Pop track to win a Grammy Award, adding this prestigious honor to its already impressive collection that includes Golden Globe and Critics Choice awards.
Historic Victory at Crypto.com Arena
During the pre-telecast ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, 'Golden' secured the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. The winning track, performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, represents a significant breakthrough for the K-Pop genre on the global music stage.
The songwriters—EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, DO, 24, and Teddy—took to the stage to accept the award, delivering their acceptance speech in both English and Korean. Their victory came against formidable competition that included tracks from established artists across multiple genres.
Overcoming Strong Competition
'Golden' triumphed over several notable contenders in its category, including:
- 'As Alive As You Need Me To Be' by Nine Inch Nails
- 'I Lied to You' by Miles Caton
- 'Never Too Late' by Elton John and Brandi Carlile
- 'Pale, Pale Moon' by Jayme Lawson
- 'Sinners' by Leonard Denisenko, Rodarius Green, and Travis
Multiple Nominations and Additional Honors
The Grammy victory represents just one aspect of 'Golden's impressive awards season performance. The track entered the 2026 Grammy Awards with four nominations, including:
- Song of the Year (still pending announcement during main ceremony)
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
- Best Remixed Recording
- Best Song Written for Visual Media (which it won)
EJAE made additional history by becoming the first Korean-American female songwriter to receive a Song of the Year nomination, though the track did not win in the other categories where it was nominated.
Breaking K-Pop's Grammy Barrier
This victory marks a significant moment in Grammy history, as K-Pop artists have previously faced challenges in securing wins despite multiple nominations. While groups like BTS have received five nominations without a win, and Blackpink's Rose earned three nominations including Song of the Year and Record of the Year for 'APT' with Bruno Mars, 'Golden' has now broken through to become the genre's first Grammy-winning song.
Looking Ahead to Oscar Possibilities
The awards season journey for 'Golden' continues beyond the Grammys, with the track also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Industry observers currently consider the song the frontrunner to complete its awards season sweep with an Oscar victory, potentially ending this remarkable run on the highest possible note.
This historic Grammy win not only celebrates the creative achievement of the KPop Demon Hunters team but also represents a watershed moment for K-Pop's recognition on the global music stage, demonstrating the genre's growing influence and artistic merit in international awards competitions.
