BTS in 2021: Could they finally win themselves a Grammy Award?

BTS has risen to the top of the heap. The group has gone from K-pop success to global phenomenon in the span of five years, and now they have their sights set on winning a Grammy Award. BTS discussed their Grammy chances during a recent interview with Variety and claimed that winning the award would be a “dream.” Group member Suga told the outlet that he watched the Grammys as a kid and dreamed of winning a statue of his own. “I grew up watching American award shows, so obviously we all know and I know the importance of the Grammys,” he said. “It’s a dream anyone working in music has.” RM echoed Suga’s sentiments and claimed that Grammy wins are one of the goals that motivate the group. “[A Grammy] motivates us to work harder,” he explained. “As Suga said, if you are in music, the Grammy Awards are something that you cannot help but to look toward and set as an eventual goal.”

Grammy goals

BTS is no stranger to the Grammy stage. The group made history as the first K-pop act to be nominated for Best Recording Package at the 2019 ceremony. They were also the first K-pop act to present at the Grammys. BTS took the stage to present the best R&B album category, awarding the Grammy to H.E.R. for her self-titled album. RM assured viewers that BTS would return to accept a Grammy Award of their own. “Growing up in South Korea, we always dreamed of being on the Grammys stage,” the singer explained. “Thank you to all our fans for making this dream come true and we’ll be back.” BTS performed their single “Dynamite” live in 2021 as the first K-pop act to do so. The group received multiple nominations across subsequent years but did not win; the 2021 “dream” quotes remain relevant as motivation.

Diversity problems

Halsey, an American singer who collaborated with the group on the single “Boy with Luv”, took to Twitter to criticize the Grammys for their lack of diversity. “Deleting and ignoring all negativity,” Halsey wrote. “BTS deserved many nominations. I am however, unsurprised that they weren’t acknowledged. The United States is so far behind on the whole movement. the time will come.” Diversity has always been a problem for the Grammys. Deborah Dugan took over as Grammy President in 2019 and she told NPR the show will be broadening its scope to incorporate global acts like BTS. Dugan told the outlet that Grammy selections should reflect and inform the expanding tastes of popular culture. “Music translates and changes our broader culture, what kids want to be and listen to,” she reasoned. “And if they can see women artists and people who look like they're making music and being Grammy nominees, that has a ripple effect across our entire culture. That's huge.” The Recording Academy added the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category for the 69th Grammys in 2027. Ongoing voting body diversification efforts continued after 2019.

Making history

The Grammy President told fans that their favorite artist would get a fair shake at future ceremonies. “We are personally and professionally committed to advance and champion diversity, inclusivity, transparency — making processes simple and understandable,” she added. “So this is a new day of reinvention at the Recording Academy. There is so much that is great. But we're examining everything — absolutely everything.” BTS performed “Dynamite” at the 2021 Grammys, marking the first time a K-pop original song was performed on the broadcast. Sumi Jo won Best Opera Recording in 1993 as the first Korean Grammy winner.

Military Hiatus and 2026 Return

All seven members completed mandatory South Korean military service by early 2026. The group returned with their fifth studio album Arirang, which topped charts and launched a global tour. The extended break meant no new Grammy eligibility during those years, shifting focus from award cycles to individual duties and eventual regrouping.

Nominations Without Wins

BTS earned five Grammy nominations across three years. They received nods for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Dynamite” in 2021, “Butter” in 2022, and “My Universe” with Coldplay in 2023. Additional nominations came for Best Music Video for “Yet to Come” and Album of the Year for Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres in 2023. None resulted in a win despite sustained commercial dominance.

New Grammy Categories for Global Pop

The Recording Academy announced five new categories for the 69th Grammys in 2027, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The addition covers K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop and forms part of broader reforms addressing genre and geographic inclusion after years of criticism. The move directly responds to long-standing calls for structural change.

BTS's Enduring Grammy Legacy

BTS became the first K-pop act with major-category nominations and a live performance on the Grammy broadcast. Their presence kept industry conversations about inclusion active even during the group’s military hiatus. The 2027 category expansions stand as a measurable outcome of that sustained visibility.