Get ready for a groundbreaking moment in music history! The 2026 Grammy Awards nominations are here, and they're making waves with an all-female K-pop takeover!
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards nominations were announced, and it's a big deal for K-pop artists and fans alike. But here's where it gets controversial... all the top nominees are women, and they're dominating the charts and breaking records.
The hit song "Golden" from the chart-topping film "KPop Demon Hunters" has earned nominations for Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. This song, performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, has become an anthem for the film's fictional K-pop group, HUNTR/X. And the impact doesn't stop there; ROSÉ from BLACKPINK, along with Bruno Mars, has also been nominated for their collaboration "APT." These artists are not just making waves in the K-pop scene but are also recognized for their talent on a global scale.
And this is the part most people miss: the LA-based global girl group KATSEYE, inspired by K-pop, has earned nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. It's a rare feat for any girl group, let alone a global one, to be nominated in such prestigious categories. KATSEYE, formed through the reality series "Dream Academy," has captivated audiences with their catchy tunes like "Gnarly" and "Gabriela" from their EP "BEAUTIFUL CHAOS." They're part of the renowned HYBE Entertainment, home to fan favorites like BTS.
The potential for history-making is high. If any of these women win a Golden Gramophone Award in February, they'll be the first K-pop artists to ever achieve this feat. Until now, BTS held the sole nomination for K-pop in the Grammy realm.
"Golden," written by EJAE and Mark Sonnenblick, is currently sitting at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with an impressive 19-week run and counting. It topped the Hot 100 list for eight weeks straight and currently reigns supreme on the Billboard Global 200, holding the No. 1 spot for 14 consecutive weeks. EJAE shared with "GMA" how the song came to be, revealing it was written on her way to the dentist!
The film "KPop Demon Hunters" follows the fictional K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey of HUNTR/X, who double as demon hunters, protecting their fans from supernatural threats. The voices behind these characters are Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo.
"APT.," released in October 2024, has also been a chart-topper, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Charts and No. 8 on the Hot 100. ROSÉ and Mars even won an MTV Video Music Award for Song of the Year earlier this year.
The Broadway musical "Maybe Happy Ending," a South Korean production with lyrics by Hue Park, has also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. This musical has already won six Tony Awards in 2025, including Best Musical, Book, Score, Actor in a Leading Role, Direction, and Scenic Design.
If the musical takes home the Grammy, Park will share the award with principal vocalists Marcus Choi, Darren Criss, Dez Duron, and Helen J. Shen, along with co-producers Deborah Abramson, Will Aronson, and Ian Kagey.
The 68th Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Get ready for an unforgettable night of music and history in the making! Who do you think will take home the coveted awards? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
