‘Golden’ by Huntr/x becomes the first K-pop song to win a Grammy, showcasing global impact and Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters
A landmark moment for Korean pop music unfolded at the Grammy Awards as Golden, the breakout hit from the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters, became the first-ever K-pop song to win a Grammy.
Also read: Eight-year-old Aura V becomes youngest Grammy winner
The track, performed by the fictional group Huntr/x, received the award for Best Song Written for Visual Media, marking a historic first for the genre on music’s biggest stage.
Released last June, KPop Demon Hunters became Netflix’s most-watched film of all time, amassing over 480 million views.
Its vibrant soundtrack topped the Billboard charts, the first film soundtrack to achieve such success since Encanto in 2022.
Beyond the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media, Golden was also nominated for Song of the Year, reflecting its broad cultural and commercial appeal.
The Recording Academy’s recent expansion to include prominent K-pop artists such as Woozi (Seventeen), Jungwon (Enhypen), and Huh Yunjin (Le Sserafim) underscored the genre’s growing influence, a fact highlighted by Golden’s historic win.
Other early winners emphasised the ceremony’s diversity. British artists Yungblud, The Cure, and FKA Twigs claimed awards, while the Dalai Lama won Best Audiobook.
Eight-year-old Aura V became the youngest Grammy recipient ever, taking home Best Children’s Album.
Kendrick Lamar also continued his dominance, winning three awards, including Best Rap Song for TV Off.
Despite high expectations, Blackpink’s Rosé did not secure a trophy, leaving the ceremony empty-handed after performing alongside Bruno Mars.
The majority of awards were presented during the premiere ceremony at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre, with 86 of 95 awards handed out.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande won Best Pop Duo or Group Performance for their duet Defying Gravity, though neither was present to accept the award.
Emotional highlights included Yungblud’s Best Rock Performance win for Changes, recorded at Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell concert.
Sharon Osbourne, attending the show, was visibly moved during the tribute.
The Cure won Best Alternative Album and Best Alternative Recording, though the band missed the ceremony to attend the funeral of longtime collaborator Perry Bamonte.
Other notable winners included FKA Twigs for Best Dance/Electronic Album with Eusexua, and Kehlani, who won Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for Folded.
Joni Mitchell made an unexpected appearance after winning Best Historical Recording for the fourth volume of her Archives series.
Meanwhile, the Southern horror film Sinners claimed Best Soundtrack and Best Score.
Also read: Tinubu pays tribute to Fela Kuti after Grammy honour
With Golden’s groundbreaking victory and a ceremony full of firsts, tributes, and cultural milestones, the 2026 Grammy Awards highlighted K-pop’s rising prominence and the globalisation of the music industry.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
