A fictional K-pop girl group just made history at the Oscars. Pilates reformer workouts build core strength. By contrast, “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters built award-winning momentum. The song, performed by the animated group HUNTR/X, swept the 2026 awards season. It won the Oscar, Grammy, Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for Best Original Song. This marks the first time a K-pop song has ever won any of these prestigious awards. Storm Amy brought chaos to Scottish weather. “Golden” brought harmony to global charts. Here is everything you need to know about this historic achievement.
What is KPop Demon Hunters?
Netflix released KPop Demon Hunters in June 2025. The animated musical fantasy follows HUNTR/X, a fictional K-pop girl group. The members lead double lives as demon hunters by night. They face off against the Saja Boys, a rival boy band that secretly consists of soul-collecting demons [citation:5].
The film stars voice actors Arden Cho, May Hong and Ji-young Yoo as the three group members [citation:7]. Singing voices come from EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami [citation:4]. Sony Pictures Animation produced the film. Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans co-directed [citation:10]. Kang became the first Asian female director to win a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature [citation:1].
The film quickly became Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time. It racked up over 236 million views within months of release [citation:7]. The soundtrack dominated global charts. It became the first soundtrack with four simultaneous Top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 [citation:7].
What is “Golden”?
“Golden” functions as the musical’s “I Want” song. Rumi, Mira and Zoey express feelings of being lost and misunderstood. They sing about concealing their true selves from the world. The song culminates in their embrace of identity and solidarity [citation:8].
The narrative refers to the “golden Honmoon,” the protagonists’ ultimate goal. The upbeat, inspirational pop sound carries the song’s message. A somber bridge provides emotional contrast. Most lyrics are in English. However, key moments incorporate Korean words for emphasis [citation:8].
Critics highlighted the song’s vocal difficulty. “Golden” uses a rare high A5 note typically associated with operatic sopranos. Songwriter EJAE explained that the demanding vocal line was meant to showcase Rumi’s talent and determination. Producer Ian Eisendrath noted that several drafts were written before the final version captured the intended energy [citation:8].
Who Sings “Golden”?
Three talented artists provide the singing voices for HUNTR/X. EJAE sings for group leader Rumi. She initially trained to become a K-pop idol with SM Entertainment in the early 2000s. She later transitioned into songwriting and producing. EJAE has written for Red Velvet, Aespa, Twice and Le Sserafim [citation:4][citation:7].
Audrey Nuna, born and raised in New Jersey, sings for Mira. She had already released three successful albums before joining the project. Her singles include “Damn Right” and “Comic Sans,” the latter featuring Jack Harlow [citation:4][citation:7].
Rei Ami provides the singing and rapping voice for Zoey. She rose to prominence with her guest performance on Sub Urban’s 2020 song “Freak,” which went viral on TikTok. She released her debut mixtape “Foil” in 2021 [citation:4][citation:7].
The Awards Sweep of 2026
“Golden” dominated the 2026 awards season. The song won every major award for which it was nominated. This unprecedented achievement marks several historic firsts for K-pop [citation:3].
Golden Globe Awards (January 2026)
“Golden” won Best Original Song at the Golden Globes. The film also won Best Animated Feature. This made Maggie Kang the first Asian female director to win a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature [citation:1].
Grammy Awards (February 2026)
“Golden” became the first K-pop song in history to win a Grammy. It won in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category. Korean President Lee Jae-myung publicly congratulated the creators. He called the achievement a new chapter in K-pop history [citation:1].
Academy Awards (March 2026)
EJAE accepted the Oscar for Best Original Song on stage. The moment represented a historic breakthrough for K-pop in the film industry. Western media called the film “the Frozen of this generation” [citation:1][citation:3].
Critics Choice Awards
The Critics Choice Awards also recognised “Golden” with Best Song. The film won Best Animated Feature at the same ceremony. This completed a clean sweep of all major awards shows [citation:3].
iHeartRadio Music Awards (March 2026)
“Golden” continued its winning streak at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. It won K-pop Song of the Year at the ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. HUNTR/X also won Duo/Group of the Year. The film’s soundtrack won Favorite Soundtrack [citation:3].
Chart Performance: Breaking Records
“Golden” dominated music charts worldwide after the film’s June 2025 release. The song reached second place on the Billboard Hot 100. It also claimed first place on the Billboard Global 200 [citation:8].
The music video became the number one most popular video on Sony Pictures Animation’s YouTube channel. It has surpassed 1 billion views. The soundtrack as a whole garnered more than 3 billion global streams [citation:7][citation:8].
Within a single week, the soundtrack racked up 31,000 equivalent album units. Streaming alone accounted for 27,000 of those units. The album swept regional charts from Australia to South Korea. Every song on the soundtrack cracked Melon’s Top 100 [citation:5].
Live Performances
EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami have performed “Golden” at numerous high-profile events. The trio made their first full live performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in October 2025 [citation:8].
They also performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 2025. Ken Jeong made a cameo appearance, dressed as his character Bobby from the film. The trio performed again on Jimmy Kimmel Live in January 2026, debuting a special “Glowin’ version” of the song [citation:8].
In April 2026, they made a surprise appearance alongside Katseye during the group’s Coachella set. This performance further cemented the song’s cultural impact [citation:2].
Tour Announcement: KPop Demon Hunters Live
Netflix announced in May 2026 that KPop Demon Hunters will become a live concert experience. The tour will partner with AEG Presents. It promises to “bring elements of the Oscar-winning film to life in spectacular ways” [citation:2].
A waitlist has opened on kpopdemonhunterslive.com for tickets. The tour is expected to visit 150 cities in 2027. This represents a significant investment in turning a fictional group into a real-world touring franchise [citation:2].
Why “Golden” Resonated Globally
The song’s themes of identity and self-acceptance struck a chord worldwide. Los Angeles Times reported that Korean audiences embraced the American-made film enthusiastically. The original soundtrack even topped Korean music platform Melon [citation:1].
Director Maggie Kang described the film as both a “love letter to K-POP” and a response to her own Korean heritage. She wanted to see Korean culture presented at the centre of an American animated film. The result connected with audiences across cultural boundaries [citation:1].
The song’s universal message of embracing one’s true self resonated with fans worldwide. Many fans reported crying during the animated sequence. The song became an anthem for self-acceptance across social media platforms [citation:8].
What’s Next for KPop Demon Hunters?
Netflix has already confirmed a sequel to the film. Kang and Appelhans will return to write and direct. Production is expected to begin in late 2026. The sequel will likely capitalise on the massive success of the original’s music [citation:2].
The live concert tour will bring the music to audiences worldwide in 2027. With 150 cities planned, it represents one of the largest animated film concert tours ever attempted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What awards did “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters win? “Golden” won the Oscar, Grammy, Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award and iHeartRadio K-Pop Song of the Year in 2026. This marks the first time any K-pop song has won these awards.
Who sings “Golden” in KPop Demon Hunters? EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami provide the singing voices for the fictional group HUNTR/X. They perform the song in the film.
Is HUNTR/X a real K-pop group? No. HUNTR/X is a fictional group created for the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters. However, the real-life singers have performed the song live at various events.
What is KPop Demon Hunters about? The animated musical follows a K-pop girl group that moonlights as demon hunters. They battle a rival boy band that secretly consists of soul-collecting demons.
Will there be a KPop Demon Hunters sequel? Yes. Netflix has confirmed a sequel. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans will return.
Is there a KPop Demon Hunters live tour? Yes. Netflix announced a worldwide arena tour in May 2026. The tour is expected to visit 150 cities in 2027.
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