HUNTR/X Singers Turn the Oscars Stage ‘Golden’ With Stunning Performance of Nominated Hit
AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI and EJAE delivered a soaring performance of the 'KPop Demon Hunters' hit.
From left: REI AMI, EJAE, and AUDREY NUNA perform during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood.
For one of the most anticipated moments of the night, the singing voices of KPop Demon Hunters‘ girl group HUNTR/X — AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI AND EJAE — made sure to deliver on the Oscars stage.
The trio performed the movie’s smash hit, “Golden,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, and in doing so brought the film’s underlying message to the masses.
As dancers filled the stage, the voice of film character Celine echoed throughout the Dolby Theater in Hollywood: “Our music unites the soul and brings people together,” she says, as heard in her opening monologue from the film, in which she shares the purpose behind HUNTR/X.
At that, the stage was fittingly bathed in gold as NUNA, REI AMI and EJAE emerged dressed in all white — outfits surely inspired by their characters’ final performance in the film, only here done up Oscars style.
And as their voices soared, a wide shot of the audience showed that every single member — including Hollywood’s elite such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor — was waving lighsticks that are central to K-pop performances.
Moments after the performance, it was announced that “Golden” made history as the first K-pop song to win the original song Oscar. While accepting the trophy, EJAE said through tears: “People made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone is singing our song.”
In February, “Golden” also made history at the Grammys for becoming the first K-pop song to win an award (for best song written for visual media).
