Rosé and EJAE make history with first GRAMMY nominations
Both first time nominees, Rosé and EJAE become the first soloists and women in K-pop to receive GRAMMY nominations
Rosé and Bruno Mars (left) and EJAE (right)
John V. Esparza/Tim Westover
Words by Daniel Anderson
For the first time, two K-pop solo artists have earned major GRAMMY nominations.
BLACKPINK’s Rosé and singer-songwriter EJAE, known for her work on the Netflix and Sony Animation hit film KPop Demon Hunters, have achieved milestone nods for the 68th GRAMMY Awards.
Both first-time nominees, Rosé received three nominations for her breezy bilingual collaboration “APT” with Bruno Mars. The track is up for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. She also received a fourth nomination for her song “Messy,” which is featured on F1 The Album and earned a nod for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
Meanwhile, EJAE earned five nominations: Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, Best Remixed Recording (for “Golden”), and Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for KPop Demon Hunters. EJAE’s HUNTR/X bandmates Audrey Nuna (the singing voice for Mira) and Rei Ami (the singing voice for Zoey) are also nominated alongside her for “Golden.”
With their nominations, Rosé and EJAE become the first K-pop soloists and first female K-pop artists ever recognized by the Recording Academy. EJAE is also the first Korean American woman songwriter nominated for Song of the Year. Coincidentally, both are tied to South Korean label THEBLACKLABEL for their respective projects—Rosé as a signed artist and EJAE as part of the creative team behind KPop Demon Hunters, which has shattered multiple Billboard records.
While not identifying strictly as a K-pop group, the global girl group KATSEYE under HYBE x Geffen received their first Grammy nominations as well for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their hit “Gabriela.” Joining them in the Best New Artist category is mixed English, Jamaican-Chinese singer Lola Young. Young is also nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Messy."
These nominations mark a historic shift: until now, the only K-pop act to receive GRAMMY recognition has been BTS, who earned nods for “Dynamite,” “Butter,” and “My Universe” featuring Coldplay, along with Music Video of the Year and Album of the Year considerations, between 2021 and 2023. Rosé’s and EJAE’s successes signal new ground being broken for women and soloists in the K-pop industry.
The historic GRAMMY nominations for KPop Demon Hunters arrives after the announcement of a sequel for the film and slated live performances from HUNTR/X for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade later this month in New York, and the KIIS-FM Jingle Ball in December in Los Angeles.
Beyond K-pop, several other Asian diasporic artists have earned nominations across diverse categories, underscoring the breadth of representation at this year’s awards.
In the rock categories, Linkin Park, featuring rapper Mike Shinoda and DJ Joe Hahn (who are Japanese American and Korean American, respectively), secured nominations for Best Rock Performance (“The Emptiness Machine”) and Best Rock Album (From Zero). Daniel Fang, drummer of the band Turnstile, earned multiple nods, including Best Rock Performance (“Never Enough”), Best Metal Performance (“Birds”), Best Rock Song (“Never Enough”), Best Rock Album (Never Enough), and Best Alternative Music Performance (“Seein’ Stars”).
Kehlani who is of mixed Filipino descent received two nominations for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for "Folded." And Tyla, who is of mixed Indian heritage received a nomination in Best African Music Performance for "Push 2 Start."
In the pop and jazz categories, Icelandic Chinese singer Laufey received a nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album with A Matter of Time, while Indian American jazz pianist Charu Suri was recognized for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album with Shayan.
Theater and classical music categories also saw significant Asian representation. The South Korean-origin musical Maybe Happy Ending was nominated for Best Musical Theater Album, marking a proud moment for creators Will Aronson and Hue Park. Composer Huang Ruo’s An American Soldier received a nod for Best Opera Recording, featuring conductor Carolyn Kuan and performers Hannah Cho, Nina Yoshida Nelsen, and Brian Vu. Pianist Han Chen earned a nomination for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for Price: Piano Concerto in One Movement in D Minor, while legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma added another nomination to his extensive career for Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos.
In the global music field, Siddhant Bhatia’s Sounds of Kumbha, Anoushka Shankar’s Chapter III: We Return to Light (with Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar), and Shakti’s Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live) all earned nominations for Best Global Music Album, showcasing the continued influence of South Asian musicians on the world stage.
Comedy and spoken word also reflected Asian excellence this year. Ali Wong received a nomination for Best Comedy Album for Single Lady, while the Dalai Lama was honored with a nod for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
In the design category, Hà Trinh Quoc Bao was part of the team that earned a nomination for Best Recording Package for OK Go’s visually inventive album And The Adjacent Possible.
Jacob Collier who is of mixed Chinese heritage received a nomination for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals.
The 68th GRAMMYS ceremony will take place on Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. A host has yet to be announced.
The full list of GRAMMY nominees can be found here.
Published on November 10, 2025
Words by Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson is a disabled Chinese American adoptee based in Seattle. His freelance writing specialties include K-pop, entertainment, and food. He believes that any restaurant can be a buffet, and the key to success is to take a nap each day. Follow his adventures on Instagram @danzstan.