EJAE is looking back on what could have been a golden moment.
As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by moments that almost play out as planned! It was incredible to see this singer-songwriter and her team win Best Original Song at the 2026 Oscars for “Golden” from Kpop Demon Hunters – truly a historic win. It’s a shame their acceptance speech was cut short, because she shared they had some very special people they were hoping to thank and acknowledge in that moment.
As a big believer in celebrating teamwork, I have to give a shout-out to my incredible bandmates, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna! After our win on March 15th, I was hoping to properly thank them, but things got cut short. They absolutely crushed their vocal performances, and honestly, they’re just amazing people – I love working with them so much!
Following the song’s groundbreaking win – the first Kpop track to earn the award – EJAE, 34, accepted it on stage with five people who helped create it: Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park. They all shared in the celebration.
EJAE started her speech by expressing gratitude to everyone who helped her win the award. Then, one of the people she wrote the speech with came to the microphone holding a note.
Yu Han began to thank everyone just as the orchestra started playing, signaling the end of the “Golden” team’s performance.
Even though their acceptance speech didn’t happen the way they expected, EJAE made it clear they are still very thankful to the Academy.
She expressed how grateful and honored they were to be receiving the award. It felt surreal, and she emphasized how much hard work everyone had put in, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the project. She specifically thanked the directors for their vision in creating such a beautiful film, and reiterated that the song itself was also a product of teamwork.
As she added, “Everyone was a part of it [and] we’re just so happy that the hard work paid off.”
EJAE, Rei, and Audrey—the singers behind the HUNTR/X girl group in the Netflix movie—had a memorable night at the Conan O’Brien-hosted awards show. Not only did they celebrate the film’s win for Best Animated Feature, but they also performed the award-winning song live during the ceremony.
EJAE shared that while they were very nervous, performing at the Oscars was a huge honor. They added that it hadn’t even occurred to them it was something they might achieve, saying it wasn’t something they’d ever dreamed of accomplishing.
Growing up as a Korean American, there was a tendency to downplay our Korean heritage – things like our food and culture. Being able to reconnect with those roots during rehearsals was really special, and we’re incredibly proud of that connection.
For a look at the full list of winners at the 2026 Oscars, read on…
–Reporting by Amanda Champagne-Meadows
Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
WINNER: One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
WINNER: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
WINNER: Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
WINNER: Amy Madigan – Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku- Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
Benecio Del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo – Sinners
WINNER: Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Blue Moon
It Was Just An Accident
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value
WINNER: Sinners
Avatar: Fire and Ash
WINNER: Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
Sinners
“Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless
WINNER: “Golden” from KPop Deamon Hunters
“I Lied to You” from Sinners
“Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdii
“Train Dreams” from Train Dreams
The Secret Agent
It Was Just an Accident
WINNER: Sentimental Value
Sirat
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Butcher’s Stain
A Friend of Dorothy
Jane Austen’s Period Drama
WINNER (Tie): The Singers
WINNER (Tie): Two People Exchanging Saliva
WINNER: All the Empty Rooms
Armed Only With A Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
The Devil Is Busy
Perfectly a Strangeness
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
One Battle After Another
WINNER: Sinners
WINNER: Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Jurassic World Rebirth
The Lost Bus
Sinners
Frankenstein
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
WINNER: Sinners
Train Dreams
F1
Marty Supreme
WINNER: One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners
WINNER: Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
WINNER: One Battle After Another
Train Dreams
The Alabama Solution
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cutting Through Rocks
WINNER: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
The Perfect Neighbor
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
WINNER: One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sinners
Butterfly
Forevergreen
WINNER: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Retirement Plan
The Three Sisters
WINNER: Frankenstein
Kokuho
Sinners
The Smashing Machine
The Ugly Stepsister
Arco
Elio
WINNER: Kpop Demon Hunters
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
WINNER: F1
Frankenstein
One Battle After Another
Sinners
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2026-03-16 16:48