Asian and Asian American artists' AMA wins signal changing music industry

K-Pop sensation BTS won major recognition at the AMA awards show.

Asian and AAPI artists dominated the American Music Awards, smashing records and rewriting the narrative on mainstream music's biggest night. From K-pop global icons to R&B heavyweights, the Asian American and Pacific Islander community didn't just show up—they swept.

Here is how our community made their presence known at the AMAs:

In the midst of their first tour since fulfilling their mandatory military service, the global phenomenon BTS continued their historic AMA legacy, adding three more massive trophies to their collection:

• Artist of the Year
• Best Male K-Pop Artist
• Song of the Summer for their track "SWIM"

Filipino-Puerto Rican superstar Bruno Mars continues his reign as an R&B powerhouse, dominating the genre categories with major wins:

• Best Male R&B Artist
• Best R&B Album for The Romantic
• Best R&B Song for his track "I Just Might"

Next-Gen AAPI trailblazers take the stage

The night also belonged to first-time AAPI voices and collaborative powerhouses who broke barriers in the general fields:

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• The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X (Featuring Korean-American vocalists Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI): Took home the coveted Song of the Year, Best Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Song for their breakout track "Golden". Singer EJAE also secured Best Soundtrack for “KPop Demon Hunters”.

• KATSEYE: The recognition as New Artist of the Year cemented the Kpop-inspired girl group's rising global presence. The group won Best New Artist, Best Music Video, Breakthrough New Artist.

• Raja Kumari: She shattered glass ceilings as the first artist of Indian origin to win an AMA, recognized for her stellar collaboration on the track "Renegade (We Never Run)."

• During their acceptance speech, the Filipino American Sophia Laforteza took a moment to acknowledge the artists who helped pave the way for globally minded groups like Katseye. “We want to give a special shout-out to BTS tonight for inspiring us to represent our culture at a global scale,” she said , closing her speech with “Maraming, maraming salamat!”

During KATSEYE's acceptance speech, Filipino American member Sophia Laforteza took a moment to acknowledge the artists who helped pave the way for globally minded groups like Katseye. “We want to give a special shout-out to BTS tonight for inspiring us to represent our culture at a global scale,” she said , closing her speech with “Maraming, maraming salamat!”

Perhaps the emotional highlight of the evening was the reunion of the Black Eyed Peas. Fergie reunited on stage with will.i.am, Taboo, and apl.de.ap to accept the newly created AMA for Best Throwback Song for their 2009 hit, "Rock That Body."

During the AMA show, Black-Eyed Peas' Apl.de-ap thanked the group's Filipino fans.

 Apl.de.ap gave a proud shoutout to Filipino fans during the broadcast, stating, “Thank you to all the fans around the world who voted for this song, ‘Rock That Body.’  “Maraming salamat, mahal ko kayo, mabuhay ang Filipino.”

        FYI: For the complete list of AMA winners, click here.

Fergie, who left the group in 2018 for a solo career, gave a sweet shoutout to her 12-year-old son Axl and told the group she was "so happy to be reunited again with my brothers."

The announcement of their award was greeted with a standing ovation and sparked a social media frenzy hoping for a permanent reunion but no announcement about getting back together was forthcoming.

View from the edge

Forget the days when a global act would score a flash-in-the-pan debut, only to plummet into obscurity the following week once the superfans stopped clicking. In 2026, our community is exhibiting some serious staying power on the Billboard charts, and the mainstream industry has no choice but to change the way it counts the numbers.

Mega-groups like BTS are proving that international acts possess long-term commercial endurance. Their 2026 track "SWIM" didn't just spike upon release; it went on to become the longest-charting song of the year in the Top 10 of both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. US charts.

Over on the Billboard Hot 100, the trio of Asian American powerhouse singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami (the voices behind Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters) completely took over the airwaves. Their anthem "Golden" locked down the #1 spot for eight weeks, a history-making run that deservedly earned them Billboard’s 2026 Women of the Year honors.

KATSEYE, performed 'Pinky Up' at the AMA show.

Instead of waiting for traditional Western record labels to slowly "incubate" or introduce foreign acts to the American public, a new wave of mobile-first fandoms is launching artists onto the charts instantly. Multilingual groups like KATSEYE, Stray Kids, and aespa are landing on U.S. streaming charts on day one, erasing the historic "lag time" between overseas success and American recognition.

The sheer volume of global streams has forced major trade publications to adapt. With platforms altering data collection metrics to track 360-degree, multi-platform engagement, our digitally native, highly organized fandoms are leading the charge in how modern chart success is measured.

Groups like BTS are attracted thousands of fans in Mexico City in short notice to an appearance with Mexico's President and during their California stops on their worldwide tour, the group had their diverse fans singing along in Korean.

The Billboard 200 albums chart is increasingly occupied by hybrid localized acts. By mixing Western pop styling with international production and multilingual lyrics, these cross-border entities are proving that multiculturalism is highly marketable to general American audiences.

The best example of this international fusion was when  R&B artist Bruno Mars joined Black Pink's Rose for their international hit APT.

Change in the music industry, in terms of representation, is occurring at the speed of light. It can't come soon enough. Now, if only the Grammys will catch up to the international nature of the music industry.

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. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Hello Grammys! 2026 looks like a big year for Asian and Asian American music artists

From to[ left, clockwise: Bruno Mars, Olivia Rodrigo and BTA area releasing albums this year.

The 2027 Grammy race is already heating up, and it’s looking like a historic year for Asian representation at the top of the charts. With blockbuster releases from Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars, and BTS, the "model minority" myth is being traded for "musical powerhouse" reality. 

Here’s how these AAPI icons are shaping the musical landscape:

Olivia Rodrigo: The Filipino American phenom

• The Project: You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So in Love (dropping June 12, 2026).

• The Vibe: Rodrigo continues to be the voice of a generation. By leaning into the "sad girl" trope through her unique Fil-Am lens, she’s proving that Gen Z vulnerability has no borders.

• Grammy Odds: Currently sitting at 79.5% to land an Album of the Year nomination. Expect the Academy to shower her with love; she isn't just a pop star, she’s a blueprint for young Asian Americans navigating heartbreak and fame.

• Touring: Currently on her Motion World Tour, which runs through 2026 and into 2027.
• • April 2026: Hits major US cities like New Orleans, Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami.

  
  

  • Summer 2026: Moves to Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, New York, and eventually Europe (Vienna, Berlin, London).

  
  

  • 2027: The final leg heads to Tokyo and Johannesburg.

Bruno Mars: The hapa king of soul

• The Project: The Romantic (released Feb 27).

• The Vibe: Bruno Mars—who proudly carries Filipino and Puerto Rican heritage—reminds us why he’s a perennial Grammy favorite.

• Grammy Odds: A massive frontrunner with 90.4% odds for an AOTY nod. If "I Just Might" continues its chart dominance, Mars could easily sweep the "Big Four," cementing the legacy of Asian-Latino artists in the R&B pantheon.

• Touring: Embarking on "The Romantic Tour," a 71-show stadium run.

• Kickoff: April 10, in Las Vegas. 

  Schedule: Spans North America and Europe, including stops at Wembley Stadium (London), MetLife Stadium (New Jersey), and SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles). 

  Conclusion: October 14, in Vancouver.

BTS: The Global gold standard

• The Project: ARIRANG (released March 20).

• The Vibe: This isn't just a comeback; it’s a cultural shift. Now that they've completed their military service, the group is back to prove that Korean-language tracks belong on every major stage.

• Grammy Odds: Currently a dark horse at 6.1%, but they are "the whole package" and a win would be the ultimate vindication for a group that has consistently broken barriers for Asian artists.

• Touring: Launching the Arirang World Tour, an massive 82-date run.
• • 
    
  • Kickoff: April 9.

  
  

  • Duration: The tour will keep them on the road through March 2027.

  
  

View from the edge

Outside of K-pop Demon Hunters' "Golden," which won at the Grammy's and the Oscars, and Chinese Icelander Laufey, it has been a dry couple of years for AANHPI artists. This year, there will be a stronger Asian and Asian American presence when the awards season comes around with these big-name artists releasing albums and sceduling tours at the same time. They may very well be competing against each other in various categories. such as Album of the Year or Song of the Year.

Looking forward: The 2027 Grammys and the Billboard Music Awards won't just be about the music — they’ll be celebrations of a global Asian identity that is impossible to ignore.

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. 

Bruno Mars is back, releases his new solo album 'The Romantic', & announces new tour

Its been too long (10 years) but our favorite Filipino-Puerto Rican superstar, Bruno Mars, is back in the driver’s seat after dropping his fourth solo studio album, The Romantic.

For the Asian American community, Bruno has always been a point of immense pride. Seeing a Pinoy face dominate the global stage isn't just about the music; it’s about the representation he brings to every "uptown funk" beat and "versace" slide.

Born and raised in Hawaii to a Filipino mother and Puerto Rican father, Mars' new album leans into his Latino roots with the use rhythmic accents of boleros, mariachi, and salsa. Released on February 27, The Romantic is already being hailed as a masterpiece of "modern nostalgia."

While the whole album drips with soul, three tracks stand out as his most direct tribute to those Caribbean and Latin rhythms:

"Cha Cha Cha": will most likely be a favorite among Filipinos who love get on the dance floor with the cha-cha. The most rhythmic of the bunch, this track trades the usual 808s for a mellow salsa percussion section, creating a groove that feels like a backyard party in Spanish Harlem. Rolling Stone notes it even cleverly interpolates hip-hop vibes into its tropical swing.

"Something Serious": This is where Bruno channels his inner Carlos Santana. It’s a percussion-heavy jam that Stereogum says "jacks its groove" from the legends of Latin rock and boogaloo, putting the cowbell and brass front and center.

"Risk It All": The album opener sets the stage with dramatic mariachi horns and bolero-style vocals, reminiscent of the legendary Luis Miguel. It’s a grand, cinematic nod to the "romantic" ballad tradition of his Puerto Rican roots.

A return to soul

Here’s a track-by-track breakdown of the other six songs inThe Romantic. recalling the vintage soul sounds he’s mastered over the years.

The lead single, "I Just Might," didn't just climb the charts—it teleported straight to No. 1, proving that the world was hungry for that signature Mars magic.

Here are the other cuts and what the critics (and the fans) are saying:

"I Just Might" – The record-breaking lead single is a quintessential, bubbly funk anthem that feels like an instant classic for the dance floor.

"God Was Showing Off" – A standout "sweet soul" ballad that Billboard describes as a dreamy, two-chord groove reminiscent of the Philly soul era.

"Why You Wanna Fight?" – This pleading R&B track showcases Mars’ most raw, emotional vocals yet, with raspy harmonies that some are comparing to The Weeknd.

"On My Soul" – A high-octane, sincere pledge of commitment that picks up the pace with manic electric guitar and undeniable physical joy.

"Nothing Left" – A poignant, piano-led lament that echoes his earlier hits like "When I Was Your Man," complete with a distorted, soulful guitar solo.

"Dance With Me" – The album closes with a cinematic, 60s-inspired slow dance that leaves fans swaying under "twinkling stars."

Bruno Mars' new album has influences from his Latin and Blues roots

Breaking records

When the tickets for his 2026 "The Romantic Tour" went on sale, the internet didn't just slow down; it nearly broke. Produced by Live Nation, the tour saw a frenzy that surpassed even the biggest stadium runs of the last decade.

Mars set a new industry benchmark for the most concert tickets sold by a solo male artist in a single 24-hour period, moving over 2.1 million tickets on the first day of sales. Taylor Swift holds the record with $2.4 million in the first day for her The Eras Tour last year.

Mars' staggering number eclipsed records previously held by pop icons, proving that Bruno’s "staying power" is less of a slow burn and more of a wildfire.

Mars is serving as the 2026 Record Store Day Ambassador, releasing a limited compilation titled "The Collaborations" on April 18, featuring his hits with artists like Lady Gaga and Rosé.

Hitting the road

The tour kicks off on April 10 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas—fitting, given his long-standing residency history there. What makes this run special for us is the "pamilya" feel of the lineup. He’s bringing along his Silk Sonic partner Anderson .Paak (performing as DJ Pee .Wee) and soulful openers like Victoria Monét, RAYE and Leon Thomas.

From London’s Wembley Stadium to the massive Rogers Stadium in Toronto, the world is about to get a masterclass in showmanship. For a kid who started as an Elvis impersonator in Waikiki, this isn't just a comeback; it’s a coronation.

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. 

Analysis: There's something troubling about the Billboard Music Awards

K-pop girl groups NewJeans, left and Black Pink won Billboard awards.

Taylor Swift's domination of the Billboard Awards Sunday night was not a surprise. The 33-year old pop music artist won 10 trophies. Less of a surprise was the 11 wis by her male counterpart, Morgan Wallen, who broke out of the Country/Western genre.

On the heels of Swift's massively successful Eras tour that boosted the economy of the host cities, the 33-year old queen of pop, who has been a professional entertainer since she was 16-years old, walked away with 10 trophies.

But even Swift's feat was topped by country singer Morgan Wallen who won in 11 categories.

        FYI: Complete list of Billboard Award winners.

The Asian nominees, all from South Korea, dominated the K-pop categories. Duh! Would it be possible for a non-Korean group to win in these categories?

With super group BTS sidelined for several reasons -- mandatory mlitary service and a desire to strike out as single artist -- perennial favorite BTS was not nominated in any category. That left the door oopen for other K-pop groups.

The girl group NewJeans was named the "Top Global K-Pop Artist" and favorite Black Pink won Top K-Pop Touring Artist.

Stray Kids, 5-STAR wonTop K-Pop Album, a new category specifically created for the Korean music artists.

The Filipino American nominees, not being White, Korean, Black, Latino or Indigenous failed to win in their respective categories. Olivia Rodrigo lost to Swift in the Top Female Artist category. Beyonce beat Bruno Mars as the Top R&B Artist.

It should be noted that the Billboard awards, started in 2003, is based on album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring, and social engagement rather than artistry or by membership voting.

Breaking down the Billboard awards by race may not be fair except to point out that the group with the most discretionary funds to actually purchase music are Whites. However, the categories as designed by Billboard appear to be race specific without specifically mentioning race. 

So what about Fuerza Regida, which was named the Top Duo/Group? The Mexican American band is one of those exceptions that was so good it could not be overlooked.

Generally, in order to overcome accusations of a White-preference in the music industry, Billboard and the Grammys (which will be awarded next year) broke music into categories which were born out of racial environments.

It can't be denied that Rhythm and Blues came out of the Black experience, which gave birth to Rock, which today, ironically, is dominated by White males with giant  speakers. 

Country/Western, rightly or wrongly, with few exceptions is almost wholly White music that originated from poor White immigrants from Western Europe who settled in Appalachia. Although there are those who would strongly deny it, the genre has been heavily influenced by Black Gospel and the Blues. The banjo, the most distinctly musical instrument associated with that genre, after all, came out of Africa and popularized by Black slaves.

So-called Pop music, which has the potential of being a melting pot, is still mostly White, since Black artists are almost always placed in the R&B and Rap categories and Latinos shuttled into Latin genres (again, exceptions occur).

Artists like Rodrigo and Mars are the exception to these generalizations because, well, Billboard has the same problem as others in defining Filipinos. The Filipino talent, afterall, is to adapt to the surrounding environment. They are so good at adapting people it is awkward to put them into a music box. Are they really Asian? Are they Latinos of Asia? or Are the darker-skinned Filipinos and soulful artists the Blacks of Asia? 

Rodrigo, growing up in in Southern California suburbs,hones her musical roots in the angst-driven teen society of White suburbia.

Mars, who began his performing career as a mini-Elvis impersonator, knows that the roots of Elvis's music came from the Black artists that merged Gospel, jazz and the Blues.

For non-Whites to cross over into race-rooted musical genres is not easy; at least not as easy for Whites to go wherever they want. It requires that the artists of color to be so outstanding that they can't be ignored by the music industry. This is what happens whenever Mars comes out with a new album either as a single or as duo as he did when her partnered with Anderson Paak as Silk Sonic in 2021-2022 and in 2016-2017 when his 24-K Magic album swept almost all the R&B awards.

And you can be sure to see Rodrigo's presence at the Grammys and next year's Billboard awards after her second album,  Guts, with three hits, "Vampire," Bad Idea Right?" and "Get Him Back."  It appears that Guts will be as successful in sales as her breakout debut albur Sour and will likely be included as Album of the Year.

Race influences almost every aspect of American life, including the nation's music. That's not a bad thing, but it needs to be acknowledged, accepted and appreciated.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the  blog Views From the Edge.

Hamas attacks force Bruno Mars to cancel concert and evacuate from Israel

Bruno Mars was looking forward to his second Tel Aviv concert when the Hamas attacks occurred.

Bruno Mars fans can breathe a little easier. Mars and his band are safe after being forced to evacuate from Israel because of attacks by the terrorist group Hamas.

Because of the Saturday surprise attacks killing thousands of people, the Filipino American performer, his band and an entourage of 60, were forced to cancel a scheduled concert in Tel Aviv and flew to Athens.

Days earlier, Mars' performed in front of a sold-out concert at Tel Aviv's Park HaYarkonn stadium. He was set to return to another sold-out crowd on Oct. 7.

After Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a declaration of war after the surprise attack early Saturday. By Saturday afternoon, Live Nation Israel, organizers of the concerts, issued a statement that the concert was canceled for safety concerns. 

Ticket holders to the canceled concert will be refunded, according to a statement from Live Nation Israel.

The evaduation happened so quickly that Mars reportedly left his band equipment behind in Israel forcing the cancellation of the upcoming concert in Doha, Qatar.

The expert showman didn't disappoint in his first first-ever concert in Israel. 

“Tel Aviv!” he shouted out to the exuberant crowd of more than 60,000 packed into Yarkon Park to see the performer’s first-ever show in the Jewish state. “The Hooligans (his band) have made it to Israel.”

“We’ve heard stories about this place, we heard that you sweat and we heard that you dance… we’ve been waiting a long time to play for you,” he declared as the crowd roared their approval. From that moment on, he had the Israeli audience in the palms of his hands.

The biggest surprise of the night came toward the end of the evening, when Mars took a brief break offstage and his keyboardist, John Fossit, played an instrumental version of the very timely classic Israeli children’s song, “Shlomit Bona Sukkah,” (Shlomit builds a sukkah) by Naomi Shemer, as the surprised and delighted crowd sang along, reports The Times of Israel.

After the trip to the Middle East, Mars is scheduled to return to the US for concerts in Florida followed by a run in Las Vegas where he'll perform through New Year's Eve. Mars, who just celebrated his 37th birthday, continues his world tour in January 2024 with seven concerts in Tokyo.

        FYI: Click here for updates on the war between Israel and Hamas

The current conflict has claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis. Dozens of Israeli citizens were kidnapped and are being held hostage by Hamas, an extremist group that controls the terretories known as the Gaza Strip and West Bank where Palestinians are allowed to reside.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the  blog Views From the Edge.

Asian American artists up for Grammy awards

GABRIELLA SARMIENTO WILSON

Asian Americans will have a presence at today's Grammy awards despite the absence of perennial favorite, Filipino American Bruno Mars.

H.E.R., aka Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, won't repeat last year's  feat when she won four Grammys. This year the Filipino American performer teamed up with Mary J. Blige for their recording "Good Morning Gorgeous," which was nominated for Record of the Year, Best R&B song and Album of the Year. H.E.R was also nominated for taking part in "Intimidated" with the DJ, Kaytranda, which received a nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Recording.

Another Filipino American, Steve Lacy, earned four nominations for his song "Bad Habit," the the categories of Best Progressive R&B Album, Best Pop Solo Performance. He will also go up against H.E.R. and Blige in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories.

Lacy will also be one of the performers for the awards show.

Grayson Villanueva's song "Nobody Like U," for the animated film Turning Red. was nominated for Best Song Written For Visual Media.

Indian American artist Nora Jones  had her album, “I Dream of Christmas (Extended),” nominated for Best Pop Album.

The immensely popular South Korean boy band BTS was nominated for the third straight year. This year the K-pop group was nominated in three categories: Album of the Year, Best Music Video and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

For the past two years, BTS was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance but failed to win the recording industry's top recognition. It not certain that the seven-member group will attend the award ceremonies in Los Angeles.

Missing from this year's Grammys is Filipino American R&B performer Bruno Mars, who has won a total of 15 Grammys by himself and in partnership with Anderson Paak as Silk Sonic. He and Anderson Paak withdrew their hit album from Grammy consideration even though many thought it would be a top contender.

Olivia Rodrigo, the Filipino American songwriter and singer, who won three Grammys in 2022 including Best New Artist, will be among the presenters. Dwayne Johnson, one of Hollywood's most popular actors, will also be a presenter.

FYI: The 65th annual Grammy Awards will air exclusively on CBS on Sunday, beginning at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. If you have cable (or an HDTV antenna), simply check your local listings for channel information to watch the show. The ceremony can also be streamed live by signing into CBS.com.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, Silk Sonic win Billboard Music Awards

Olivia Rodrigo, left, and Silk Sonic members Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak.

Olivia Rodrigo won the most Billboard awards Sunday with seven, including new artist, female artist, Hot 100 artist, streaming songs artist, radio songs artist, Billboard Global 200 artist and Billboard 200 album.

The Billboard awards was icing on the cake for the Filipino American songwriter/singer. Since she released her first single, drivers license, Rodrigo continues her winning streak that began   with the MTV Music Awards, Peoples Choice and continued with major wins in the prestigious Grammy's. 

The K-pop boy band BTS won awards for Group, Sales Song Artist and Song Sales.

BTS won Top Group Billboard award for the third straight year.

The R&B duo Silk Sonic of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak took home awards for Top Song (Leave the Door Open) and Top R&B Tour.

Unlike other award shows the Billboard awards are based on hard data. Nominees and winners are determined by Billboard chart rankings and winners are selected based on several criteria, including their album and digital song sales, airplay and streaming success and touring.

Grammy award show was one for the history books for Filipino Americans

Olivia Rodrigo won three Grammys in her first recording hits and album

UPDATED, April 5, 1 p.m. PDT to include Grammy winner Arooj Aftab.

It was a historic moment not lost by Filipino Americans. It may never happen again: two Filipino American acts opening a major awards show, but that's what happened when Bruno Mars and Olivia Rodrigo were the first two performances at the 64th Grammy Awards.

Asian American artists, especially Filipino Americans, made their presence felt at the Grammys, the music industry's major awards show.

In the first performance to get the show off to a lively start, Mars teamed up with Anderson Paak as Silk Sonic to do a raucous funky performance of "777" from their album giving the show an instant shot of energy and excitement. 

Even before the first award was announced, right after Silk Sonic's performance, Rodrigo followed, singing her highly emotive hit of teenage love and loss, "drivers license."

Host Trevor Noah didn't point out the Filipino American angle to the two opening acts, but every Filipino and Filipino American watching the show, and a good number of AANHPI viewers knew what just happened and the significance of having the Asian American artists open a show honoring musicians and singers.

The second Grammy award was presented to Olivia Rodrigo who won the highly coveted  Best New Artist category. Upon receiving the award, she said "This is my biggest dream come true," thanking her collaborators for their help in launching her recording career.

BTS, whose hit "Butter" was nominated in Best Pop Group or Duo Performance, was the third musical act, further stamping an Asian impact on the awards show.  The K-pop group wowed the audience with their choreography and singing and drew gasps from fans and a Twitter explosion when V, who began the BTS performance in the audience, playfully flirted with  Rodrigo.

What was BTS member V whispering to Olivia Rodrigo?

Another milestone was achieved when H.E.R., aka Gabrielle Sarmiento Wilson, was the third Filipino American act to perform at the Grammy's highlighted by a scintillating rocking guitar duet with Lenny Kravitz.

Mars and Paak, as Silk Sonic won the first night's Grammy for Record of the Year for their hit "Leave the Door Open," which also won three more  Grammys for Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.

When Silk Sonic won their fourth Grammy for the night, .Paak couldn't contain himself. “We are really trying our hardest to remain humble at this point,” .Paak effused. “But in the industry, we call that a clean sweep.”

Nineteen-year old Rodrigo, as many predicted, won the prestigious Best New Artist Grammy after breaking into the recording business in January of 2021 with her chart-topper "drivers license," the first of her several Top 10 hits.

Rodrigo, who prefers to be known for her song writing, also won Best Pop Solo Performance and her debut album, "Sour" won Best Pop Vocal Album. 

Filipino Americans won Grammys Sunday. From left, Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars and H.E.R.

"I really wanna dedicate this award to my parents," Olivia said while accepting the  Best Pop Vocal Album Grammy. "When I was 9 years old, I told my mom I wanted to be a gymnast even though I could barely do a cartwheel. She thought I was joking, but I was super defensive. So the next week when I told her I was going to win a Grammy, she was very supportive even though she probably thought it was just a little kid pipe dream. But I want to thank my mom for being supportive of my dreams no matter how crazy. And I want to thank my mom and dad for being equally as proud of me for winning a Grammy as they were when I learned how to do a back walkover."

In an interview prior to the Grammy broadcast, H.E.R.,who earlier was awarded the Grammy for Best R&B Performance for her song "Fight For You," gave a shoutout to "fellow Filipino" Rodrigo.

"She's one of those authentic artist who writes what she feels," said H.E.R. about Rodrigo, "I love that about her."

Besides the Filipino American winners, other AANHPI Grammy winners include:

• The Best Regional Roots Music Album Grammy went to Native Hawaiian artist Kalani Pe'a for "Kau Ka Pe'a."

• Pakistani American vocalist Arooj Aftab scored a Grammy, for her song "Mohabbat" in the Best Global Performance category.

The TV cameras kept drifting to the artists sitting in the front row and the viewers got a heavy dose of Rodrigo, H.E.R. and Silk Sonic reacting to their awards and the performances of other artists. They were sitting near each other, perhaps a table apart and could be seen in the background cheering as the others were being interviewed or when the cameras zoomed in on a winner.

Filipino American rapper Saweetie was interviewed on the Red Carpet by E's Laverne Cox. Saweetie, 28, reflected on the whirlwind success she's had in recent months and got emotional as Cox reminded her that in 2020, Saweetie said her career goal was to make it to music's biggest night.

"Girl, don't make me cry," Saweetie, who was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rap Song, a collaboration with Doja Cat. "Don't make me cry! Yes [I imagined I'd find success] but I didn't know it would happen this quick."

BTS, Saweetie, Nora Jones, Elle King and Japanese Breakfast were the other AANHPI artists nominated in various Grammy categories.

Filipinos, perhaps the most plugged-in ethnic group in the world, were all atwitter for the Grammys:

Mars' four Grammys give him 15 trophies that he has won making him the winningest Filipino American recording artist. The Hawaii-raised Mars tied Paul Simon as the only artist to win record of the year three times. Mars won with his own “24K Magic” in 2018 and in duet with Mark Ronson on “Uptown Funk” in 2016.

The first Filipino American to win a Grammy was Larry Ramos, who was one of the leaders of the folk group, the New Christy Minstrels in 1962.

The big winner for the night was Jon Batiste, walking away with five Grammys. He  for Album of the Year for "We Are."  

Click here for a complete list of Grammy winners.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Don't miss additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective. Follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

H.E.R. nominated for 8 Grammy categories, seven nods for Olivia Rodrigo

Grammy nominees, from top left, clockwise, Olivia Rodrigo, Silk Sonic, H.E.E., BTS.

UPDATED: April 2 to include Ellie King and to fix correct date of the Grammy Award show.

The Grammys announced its nominations for outstanding songs and performances by recording artists Saturday and Filipina Americans H.E.R with eight nominations and Olivia Rodrigo earned seven nominations.

The awards ceremony slated for April 3 next year will include a good representation of Asian American artists. Besides Rodrigo, H.E.R., Saweetie, Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak), jazz singer Nora Jones, country singer Ellie King and K-pop group BTS received nominations.

Jon Baptiste led all artists with 11 nominations.

H.E.R., aka Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, was nominated in eight categories. She won a Grammy last year for "I Can't Breathe" for Song of the Year. 

Perhaps the greatest impact from the 64th Grammys is Variety's article written by Filipina American journalist Jazz Tangcay. "Filipina Americans Olivia Rodrigo, H.E.R. and Saweetie Nominated in Top Grammy Categories" was about the ethnicity of the three female artists. A week ago, the Los Angeles Times, ran a similar article about the five Filipino American artists nominated for the coveted award entitled "From Olivia to Bruno to H.E.R., Filipino American artists enjoy a breakout year at Grammys" by August Brown.

While most other stories about the Grammys mentioned H.E.R, Saweetie and Olivia Rodrigo, these two articles were the only ones that emphasized their  shared  ethnic  heritage. This year's Grammys may be ushering in a new era of recognition in the recording industry as the artists tout their Filipino roots. Certainly, at the very least, it is a watershed year for AANHPI recording artists.

Ellie King, the daughter of Filipino American comedian Rob Schneider, is up for Best Country Duo or Group Performance for her song "Drunk (And I Don't Wann Go Home)," a collaboration with Miranda Lambert. 

Nominated for Best New Artist, but not as well known as Rodrigo or Saweetie, are Arooj Aftab, a Pakistani American, and indie rock band Japanese Breakfast with lead singer Michelle Chongmi Zauner, a Korean American.

K-pop juggernaut BTS, fresh from accepting their American Music Award last Sunday, received a nomination as Best Group Performance for their song "Butter."

Japanese Breakfast also garnered a nomination in the Best Alternative Music Album category for its album Jubilee.

Following are the Asian American and Pacific Islander artists and the categories in which they were nominated:

Best New Artist

Olivia Rodrigo, Saweetie, Japanese Breakfast and Arooj Aftab.

Best Traditional Pop Album,

Nora Jones, "'Til We Meet Again (Live)"

Best Pop Vocal Album

Olivia Rodrigo, Sour

Best Pop Solo Performance

Olivia Rodrigo, "drivers license"

Best Rap Song

Saweetie, "Best Friend"

Best R&B Performance

H.E.R., "Damage"

Silk Sonic, "Leave the Door Open"

Best R&B Song

H.E.R., "Damage"

Silk Sonic, "Leave The Door Open"

Best Pop Group Performance

BTS "Butter"

Song of the Year

Olivia Rodrigo, "drivers license"

H.E.R., "Fight For You"

Silk Sonic, "Leave The Door Open"

Record of the Year

Olivia Rodrigo, "drivers license"

Silk Sonic, "Leave The Door Open"

Album of the Year

H.E.R. Back of My Mind

Olivia Rodrigo, Sour

Silk Sonic, Leave The Door Open

Best Country Duo or Group Performance
Ellie King, “Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home) with Miranda Lambert

Best Alternative Music Album

Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Kalani Pe'a, Kaau Ka Pe'a

The Grammy Awards show will be broadcast live from the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas on April 3, 2022, at 8–11:30 p.m. ET/5–8:30 p.m. PT. The show will be viewable live on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. Note this correction: It was originally scheduled for Jan. 31.

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