KPop Demon Hunters star EJAE insisted it’s “never too late to shine” during her emotional speech at the 2026 Golden Globes on Sunday night.
During the ceremony held at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, the K-pop singer-songwriter, real name Kim Eun-jae, and co-writers Mark Sonnenblick, 24, Ido, and Teddy accepted the prize for Best Original Song – Motion Picture for the track Golden.
Catchy track Golden is performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami as the fictional K-pop girl group Huntrix in the animated Netflix hit film.
Addressing the audience, EJAE noted that she never gave up on pursuing her dreams.
“When I was a little girl, I worked tirelessly for 10 years to fulfil one dream, to become a K-pop idol, and I was rejected and disappointed that my voice wasn’t good enough and so I leaned on songs and music to get through it, so now I’m here as a singer and a songwriter,” she said. “It’s a dream come true to be part of a song that’s helping other girls and other boys and everyone of all ages to get through their hardships, to accept themselves.”
To conclude, EJAE dedicated the win to “people who have had doors closed on them”.
“I can confidently say rejection is redirection. So never give up, it’s never too late to shine like you were born to be,” the 34-year-old added, referencing the song’s lyrics.
Golden beat out Miley Cyrus’s Dream as One from the Avatar: Fire and Ash soundtrack, I Lied to You from Sinners, Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner’s Train Dreams, and Stephen Schwartz’s The Girl in the Bubble from Wicked: For Good in the category.
In addition, KPop Demon Hunters won Best Motion Picture – Animated during the prizegiving.
