BTS scores a Grammy nom: All the band’s best reactions

The seven-man K-pop sensation BTS just received their first Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their chart-buster hit Dynamite, and the group’s reaction turned the moment into an instant fan favorite. Other nominees that year included Intentions by Justin Bieber featuring Quavo, Rain On Me by Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande, Exile by Taylor Swift featuring Bon Iver, and Un Dia by J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, and Rauw Alejandro. It had already been quite a year. Their studio album Map of the Soul: 7 shattered records, and Dynamite, their first English single, debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 before earning the Recording Academy nod.

Video reaction

BTS took to Twitter to share their overjoyed reaction. The group posted a clip of their live reaction captioned Ohmmmmmmyyyyyyyyggghghhhhhhhgggggggggdhdhsjsixudbslsogbdsisgshdbxidjdbdidhdifjfiri#GRAMMYs#BTS. The video opens with V, Jungkook, RM, and Jimin waiting nervously on the edge of their seats. Once their names were announced, the four jumped and cheered in joy. The band also issued a statement thanking ARMY for their continued support. Although this was technically the K-pop sensation’s second Grammy nomination, they remained the first South Korean act to be nominated for the mainstream Grammy awards. Suga referenced shoulder rehabilitation in his Weverse post during the announcement period, writing that he fell asleep while waiting and now had more reason to push through recovery. J-Hope tweeted a video of himself dancing across the room with the caption And I’m off to the Grammys. BTS later performed Dynamite at the ceremony after the nomination, and the category winner was Rain On Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande.

Long wait for a BTS Grammy nom

In a recent interview with Esquire, the group opened up about their desire to earn Grammy recognition. RM told Esquire that the Grammys felt like the final part of the whole American journey. Suga described what the nod meant to him personally, noting that he grew up watching American award shows and understood the importance of the Grammys as a dream for anyone working in music. The prior nomination had been for Best Recording Package in 2019 for the Love Yourself: Tear artwork. The Dynamite nomination was the first in a performance category. The septet made their first appearance at the 61st Grammy Awards and became the first K-pop group to present that year. Though they did not win in 2019, they called the experience a dream come true in Teen Vogue. They returned the next year and joined the Grammy stage with Lil Nas X for a special rendition of Old Town Road.

ARMY still angry at Grammy

While BTS members were ecstatic to land the Grammy nomination, the ARMY remained miffed at the academy. Despite Dynamite’s historic success, the Recording Academy did not nominate the track for Record of the Year. The Grammy committee also failed to recognize BTS’s massively successful album Map of the Soul: 7. Members of the BTS ARMY posted a slew of tweets against the American Recording Academy to indicate their frustration. Some fans claimed that the K-pop group deserved a lot more recognition. Others were happy for their idols, arguing awards do not hold much real-world weight. Fans expressed disappointment over the absence of Record of the Year or Album of the Year nods for Dynamite and Map of the Soul: 7, though later nominations in the same pop category occurred in following years. The Grammy Awards remain one of the most prestigious recognitions in the music industry, despite their many shortcomings.

Subsequent Grammy Nominations

BTS received additional nominations for Butter in 2022 and My Universe with Coldplay in 2023 in the same Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, plus Album of the Year recognition for a collaborative project. The group earned a total of five Grammy nominations with no wins as of the latest records. Each new nod extended the story that began with the Dynamite announcement and kept the conversation about K-pop visibility alive inside the Recording Academy.

Grammy Performance of Dynamite

The nomination led to a historic live performance opportunity that extended the reaction story beyond social media posts. BTS performed Dynamite at the 63rd Grammys, becoming the first K-pop group to perform an original song there. The performance occurred after the nomination announcement and loss in the category, giving fans a chance to see the track on the Grammy stage even though the group did not take home the award.

Military Service Hiatus and Return

The article predates the group’s extended hiatus. All seven members completed mandatory military service by mid-2025. The group announced reunion plans with a new album scheduled for spring 2026 and a world tour, marking a return to full activity after years of staggered service schedules.

Broader Impact on K-pop at the Grammys

The event marked a milestone whose longer-term effects on industry recognition merit a dedicated forward-looking section. BTS became the first K-pop act with major category nominations, paving the way for increased visibility. Subsequent nominations for other BTS tracks reinforced the breakthrough and opened doors for additional K-pop entries in mainstream Grammy categories.

The 63rd annual Grammys aired on March 14, 2021. BTS scored their first major Grammy nomination for Dynamite, delivered an exuberant reaction that fans still revisit, performed the song on the Grammy stage, and set the stage for five total nominations across the years. The group’s journey continues with a reunion album and tour on the horizon, and the initial Dynamite nod remains the moment that cracked open mainstream recognition for K-pop at the Grammys.