'Golden' beats Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen to win AMA Song of the Year

Singers Rei Ami, left, and EJAE hold the award for Song of the Year for 'Golden' in the winners' room of the American Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Sunday (local time). EPA-Yonhap

"Golden," the breakout soundtrack hit from Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," claimed Song of the Year at the American Music Awards (AMAs) on Sunday (local time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The song, performed by the fictional girl group HUNTRIX — consisting of real-life singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — beat out a field of strong contenders, including Alex Warren's "Ordinary," Morgan Wallen's "I'm the Problem," Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" and Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas."

EJAE and Rei Ami attended the ceremony to accept the award, while Audrey Nuna was absent. EJAE, who co-wrote the song alongside Mark Sonnenblick, thanked fans and the production team.

"This movie, this song is fueled by the fans. You guys truly sealed the 'Honmoon,'" she said, a reference to the mythic barrier in the film that HUNTRIX maintains to protect the human world from the demon realm. She also took a moment to wish Rei Ami a happy 31st birthday, the occasion falling on the night of the win.

Rei Ami in turn thanked fans, family and friends, calling it a year that had changed her life.

"Golden" previously won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 68th Grammy Awards, and Best Original Song at both the Golden Globes and the 98th Academy Awards. At the Golden Globes, EJAE made history as the first Korean American to win at the ceremony.

The track broke further ground on the charts as the first K-pop song led by female vocalists to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The full "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack has surpassed 10 billion global streams, and the film is Netflix's most-watched title of all time.