EJAE marked a historic moment at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards with a speech that resonated far beyond the ceremony itself. On Sunday night, “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters won Best Original Song, becoming the first K-pop track ever to secure the Golden Globe in the category. Performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami under their trio name HUNTR/X, the win capped a remarkable awards-season run.
Taking the stage, EJAE delivered an emotional address. Rather than focusing on industry accolades, she reflected on the personal cost behind her success. “When I was a little girl, I worked tirelessly for ten years to fulfill one dream: to become a K-pop idol,” she said. “I was rejected and disappointed that my voice was not good enough.”
That journey, she explained, made the Golden Globe win feel larger than a trophy. “Now I’m here as a singer and a songwriter,” EJAE continued. “It’s a dream come true to be part of a song that is helping other girls, other boys, and everyone of all ages get through hardship and accept themselves.” The audience responded with a standing ovation. Watch the full acceptance speech here.
“Golden” arrived at the ceremony with an unusually strong blend of commercial dominance and critical validation. The track spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, setting a new record for songs from animated films and becoming the first all-female K-pop song to top the chart. Its global reach extended to the United Kingdom, where it hit No. 1 on the Singles Chart, and to streaming platforms, where it held the top spot on Spotify for 78 days.
Awards momentum followed. Prior to the Golden Globes, “Golden” claimed major wins at the Critics’ Choice Awards and the Astra Film Awards, alongside Grammy nominations and a place on the Oscars shortlist.
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