Unexpected K-Pop Idol Wins At The “2026 Grammy Awards” Before BTS And BLACKPINK

For years, K-Pop has hovered just outside the winner’s circle at the Grammy Awards.

The industry came close multiple times, most notably through BTS, who earned five nominations overall, including three in 2023. Despite the global reach and commercial power of K-Pop, an actual Grammy win remained out of reach — until 2026.

On a night when many expected BLACKPINK’s Rosé to secure at least one trophy for her mega hit “APT,” which earned three nominations, the first K-Pop–linked Grammy win came from a far less expected name.

Instead of an active idol or global pop star, the historic moment belonged to a former idol turned producer — someone deeply connected to BLACKPINK’s success.

the first kpop idol to get a Grammy being Teddy is actually hilarious https://t.co/HT2Uvct0WP

— m ✰ (@mar3uss) February 1, 2026

The hit KPop Demon Hunters song “Golden” won “Best Song Written For Visual Media,” marking K-Pop’s first-ever Grammy win. Among those who accepted the award was Ejae, but the win also made Teddy Park an official Grammy winner. While Teddy is now best known as one of K-Pop’s most influential producers, his roots in the industry trace back to his time as an idol.

Lastly, although he couldn’t be here with us today, I dedicate this honor to the person who went through this whole journey with me, my greatest mentor and my closest friend, the pioneer of K-pop, Teddy.

— Jeong Hoon Seo

Before becoming a hitmaker at YG Entertainment and later founding THE BLACK LABEL, Teddy Park debuted in 1998 as a member of the hip hop group 1TYM. Alongside Park and Danny Im, rappers Jinhwan and Baekyoung helped the group gain rapid attention. Their debut album, One Time for Your Mind, became one of the year’s best-selling albums and won several major awards. At just 22, Teddy was already producing music for other YG artists, many of whom were older and more established.

When 1TYM entered an indefinite hiatus, Teddy shifted fully into production. That decision would shape modern K-Pop. Over the years, he produced defining hits such as 2NE1’s “Lonely,” “I Am the Best,” and “Ugly,” as well as nearly every BLACKPINK title track.

While the Grammy win came through production rather than performance, its meaning is clear. After decades in the industry, Teddy’s influence has finally been recognized on music’s biggest global stage — and K-Pop has its long-awaited Grammy win!

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