Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ earns historic Grammy nods

Netflix’s animated film KPop Demon Hunters made Grammy history on November 7 when its viral song “Golden” earned three nominations, including Song of the Year—marking the first time a K-pop track has been recognized in this prestigious categorypeople.
The song, performed by fictional girl group HUNTR/X and voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, also received nominations for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Song Written for Visual Media, while the film’s soundtrack was nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Mediapeople.
The nominations represent a historic breakthrough for K-pop at the Grammys, as BTS had been the only K-pop act to receive nominations previously—earning three consecutive Best Pop Duo/Group Performance nods from 2021 to 2023 without winningforbes.
Since its June 2025 debut, KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix’s most-watched movie ever with over 236 million views, while its soundtrack debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart and became the first soundtrack with four simultaneous Top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100people.
The 68th Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where “Golden” will compete against tracks by Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, and others in the Song of the Year categorypeople.

KPop Demon Hunters Scores Historic Grammy Nods for ‘Golden’

Netflix’s animated blockbuster “KPop Demon Hunters” made Grammy history Friday as its breakout hit “Golden” earned four nominations, including the prestigious song of the year—the first time a K-pop track has been recognized in the category.people

The song, performed by fictional girl group Huntr/x—voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—also received nods for best pop duo/group performance, best song written for visual media, and the film’s soundtrack earned a nomination for best compilation soundtrack for visual media. A David Guetta remix of “Golden” was additionally nominated for best remixed recording.variety

“We all screamed,” Audrey Nuna told PEOPLE about the trio’s reaction to the nominations announcement on November 7. “I got chills in my body,” added EJAE.people

Breaking the K-pop Barrier

The nominations mark a watershed moment for K-pop at the Grammys. Until now, only BTS had received Grammy nominations in the past, earning three consecutive nods for best pop duo/group performance from 2021 to 2023, but the group never won. Should Huntr/x win in any category, they would become the first K-pop act to claim a Grammy trophy.forbes

This year also saw BLACKPINK’s Rosé make history as the first solo K-pop artist nominated in a major category, with “APT.” featuring Bruno Mars earning nods for both song and record of the year.chosun

Chart-Topping Phenomenon

“Golden” dominated global charts after the film’s June 2025 release, spending eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining at No. 2 as of early November. The song marked the longest-running No. 1 by an animated act in history, surpassing previous records held by The Archies and The Chipmunks.billboard

The “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack itself reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for two weeks and has charted four songs in the Hot 100’s top 10. The film has become Netflix ‘s most-watched movie ever, with over 236 million views.people

For EJAE, who co-wrote “Golden” with Mark Sonnenblick, the recognition validates years of work behind the scenes. “I don’t see many Asian women or Korean women in this field,” she told Billboard. “I hope this can motivate others to persevere, as it often felt unattainable”.billboard

The 68th Grammy Awards will air live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 1, 2026.abcnews