Grammy nominees Rosé, Katseye and Demon Hunters are breaking barriers

Bruno Mars and Rosé are nominated for Grammys

The 2026 Grammy nominations are out, and it's a game changer for K-pop. We're talking history in the making, folks. This isn't just about a nomination here or there in some niche category; this is about breaking into the mainstream, the real deal.

The music powers-that-be, the Recording Academy itself, finally seem to be waking up. For years, we saw BTS get nods, which was great, but it always felt a little... contained. Like they were testing the waters.

Now? They've opened the floodgates.

The biggest story has to be Rosé of the K-pop female group Blackpink. Her collab with Filipino American Bruno Mars, "APT.", is everywhere, and for good reason. It's a fantastic track. It's earned nominations for:

• Record of the Year
• Song of the Year
• Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Think about that for a second. General field categories! This is the first time a K-pop idol has had a song nominated for the biggest awards of the night. That's a huge moment, a real cultural shift.

Ethnically, Rosé is Korean, but she was born in Australia and has dual citizenship in Korea and New Zealand where she calls home.

But it doesn't stop there. There's this song "Golden" from the K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack—yes, you read that right, a soundtrack—performed by this fictional animated group HUNTR/X. 

The real-live singers providing the voices of the animated characters are Korean Americans EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami.  EJAE brings Rumi’s vocals to life, the genre-blending artist Audrey Nuna sings as Mira, and alt-pop rapper Rei Ami performs as Zoey.

FYI: The 68th Annual Grammy Awards nominations were announced on Nov.7, 2025, and the awards ceremony will take place on Feb.1, 2026. It can be viewed on CBS or stream it live and on demand through Paramount+.

They also landed nominations for Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, plus Best Song Written for Visual Media. This is the first girl group Song of the Year nod in nearly two decades! Unbelievable.

And then we have KATSEYE, the new global group from HYBE. They're up for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their single "Gabriela." This is a group formed through a reality show, showing the global reach of the K-pop system.

Leader Sophia was born in the Philippines; main dancer Daniela is American with Venezuelan and Cuban roots; all-rounder Megan is from Hawaii with a Singaporean Chinese mother; the charismatic Manon is Swiss Ghanaian; vocalist Lara is Indian American; Yoonchae (the youngest of the group at 17) is Korean.

What does all this mean? It means the Grammys are finally judging K-pop on its artistic merit, not just as a side attraction for the fans. It's no longer just a "phenomenon"; it's legitimate music being recognized at the highest level.

The K-pop group Katseye are up for Best New Artist Grammy.

Besides the multi-Grammy winner Bruno Mars, who teams up with Rosé in their hit single, other Asian artists are:

• Carolyn Kuan: The conductor of the American Composers Orchestra is nominated for Best Opera Recording for the work "Huang Ruo: An American Soldier."

• Huang Ruo: The composer of "An American Soldier" is also recognized in the Best Opera Recording category.

• Hue Park, a South Korean musical lyricist, for the Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending in the Best Musical Theater Album category.
• Charu Suri, an Indian American jazz pianist, for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
• Dijon, a Guamanian American producer/artist who is nominated for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, as well as for his contributions to Justin Bieber's album in the Album of the Year category. 

Perhaps it was no coincidence that graphic artist Masaki Koike helped announce the nominations. The Grammy awards this year are historic in another way. It is the first time the Grammy spotlight is shining on K-pop girl groups. Previously, only the male gorup, BTS, has received Grammy recognition and honors.

The Grammy nominations is a victory not just for the artists, but for the entire genre and its global fanbase. 

Zooming up to the 25,000 feet level, it means Americans and the rest of the world are seeing Asian and Asian American artists influencing the lives of the global village in ways we couldn't predict just a few years ago. Perhaps it means a door is creaking open towards acceptance, appreciation and acknowledgement -- not just for entertainers, but for all of Asians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders at all sectors of society.

It's about time. The world is watching, and K-pop is taking center stage. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.