EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami claimed one of the night’s biggest honors at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, winning Best Song for “Golden” from the animated musical fantasy KPop Demon Hunters. The win capped a ceremony dominated by Frankenstein, Sinners, and Adolescence, which each walked away with four trophies.
Performed by the trio as the fictional K-pop group HUNTR/X, “Golden” has become a rare crossover success, bridging film, pop, and global charts. Accepting the award, EJAE reflected on the emotional core of the song and its connection to her character. “When writing the song, I found myself living vicariously through my character, Rumi,” she said. “Her life and journey felt deeply familiar to me. The song needed to be an expression of hope, to convince herself that she could rise and reach for her dreams.” She added that seeing the song resonate worldwide was “truly the greatest honor.”
Released on July 4, 2025 via Republic Records, “Golden” served as the second single from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack and quickly emerged as its defining track. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts, topping rankings in more than 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, and South Korea.
In the US, the track posted explosive streaming growth. The achievement marked several milestones: HUNTR/X became the first all-women group of three or more members to lead the Hot 100 since Destiny’s Child in 2001, and the first fictional act to do so since Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” The song later became the longest-running No. 1 hit by an animated act in U.S. chart history.
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