EJAE, the singer-songwriter behind “Golden” from Netflix’s animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” secured her first Oscar nomination on Jan. 22, a milestone that moves a K-pop-forward track into the center of the Best Original Song race ahead of the March 15 ceremony.
In reaction to the nomination, EJAE told The Associated Press she still “can’t digest” what happened and called it a “dream come true,” pointing to the song’s uplifting message and the thrill of hearing audiences sing along. She also stressed the significance of Korean lyrics reaching listeners across countries and cultures, an element she said felt “crazy” to witness in real time.
The nomination caps a fast-moving year for “KPop Demon Hunters,” which has leaned hard into music-driven fandom since its June 2025 release. Netflix has highlighted the film’s momentum across awards bodies, including wins at January’s Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes.
Talk has already turned to the Oscar telecast and a possible live performance of “Golden,” an idea that makes EJAE nervous. She told People she has “really bad stage fright” and said the Academy Awards stage would raise that anxiety to a new level, while the film’s co-director Chris Appelhans joked that he and co-director Maggie Kang could step in and perform it themselves.
Netflix and its partners have also treated the property like a consumer-products engine. A licensing announcement last fall laid out global toy partnerships with Mattel and Hasbro, with products slated to reach retail starting in spring 2026; the release singled out a Monopoly Deal tie-in as an early item and framed the rollout as a response to fan demand.
“Golden” will compete against songs tied to projects including “Sinners,” “Train Dreams,” “Dianne Warren: Relentless,” and “Viva Verdi!” with the winners revealed March 15.
