Key Highlights
- Memorable Moments: The trio from KPop Demon Hunters reflected on their standout experiences from 2025.
- Historic Success: Their show became Netflix’s most-watched project, with the single “Golden” topping charts.
- Star-Studded Lineup: They are among many performers for New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, including Mariah Carey and Post Malone.
- Personal Milestones: Other artists shared their significant moments, like Demi Lovato’s marriage.
Arguably no one had a more golden year than the stars of KPop Demon Hunters — and in an interview with Billboard ahead of their performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, HUNTR/X singers REI AMI, EJAE and Audrey Nuna opened up about which moments from the past 12 months shined the brightest.
In the video published Tuesday (Dec. 30) — just one day before the trio is set to take the stage in New York City’s Times Square to help usher viewers into 2026 — the voices behind Netflix’s fictional girl group struggled to name just one “pinch me” moment to define their 2025. “This whole year was a ‘pinch me’ year,” remarked EJAE.
“For me it was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade,” Ami said, referencing the ladies’ recent performance at the annual Turkey Day event.
When EJAE pointed out that the trio’s October performance on Saturday Night Live was also a huge deal for them, Ami realized that she couldn’t decide. “That, too, but it just keeps topping,” she told her costar.
“You know what was kind of funny?” added Nuna. “Seeing my mom and Jimmy Fallon talk about kimchi together.”
It’s easy to see why the bandmates might have difficulty picking just one highlight in a year that transformed their lives. After premiering on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters quickly went down in history as the streamer’s most-watched project of all time, with its soundtrack single “Golden” spending an eye-popping eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and finishing atop the Billboard staff’s year-end editorial ranking of 2025 songs.
The HUNTR/X trio is just one of several acts booked to perform on this year’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Mariah Carey, Chappell Roan, Post Malone, BigXthaPlug, Leon Thomas, Rick Springfield, Madison Beer and several more are also on the lineup.
One of them, Charlie Puth, also shared his “pinch me” moment of 2025. “Being told that I was going to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl,” he said ahead of the Big Game on Feb. 8, 2026. “I’m not nervous now, but I’m sure I’m going to be nervous leading up to it.”
Demi Lovato, who’s also performing this NYE, shared hers as well — marrying husband Jutes in May. “My pinch me moment was realizing that my dreams came true, and I married the love of my life,” Lovato gushed.
Watch Billboard‘s full video featuring some of the 2025-26 Rockin’ Eve performers above.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 is produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
