Blackpink’s Lisa becomes first Asian soloist to win Best Pop while BTS take historic Song of the Year
Blackpink’s Lisa becomes first Asian soloist to win Best Pop while BTS take historic Song of the Year
Shahana YasminMon, September 28, 2026 at 8:24 AM UTC
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Lisa, of Blackpink, made history as the first Asian solo artist to win Best Pop at the MTV Video Music Awards, while BTS became the first K-pop group to take home Song of the Year honour at this year’s ceremony.
Lisa beat Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Olivia Rodrigo to win Best Pop for “Dream”, her collaboration with Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Lisa, 29, won at the VMAs as the first K-pop solo artist six years after BTS became the first K-pop act to win the category.
The White Lotus star was visibly emotional as presenter Teyana Taylor announced her as the winner.
Holding the trophy, she thanked MTV before turning her attention to people who had supported her career.
“All those late-night dreams brought me here today,” she said, before thanking her fans, known as Lilies. “To my Lilies, I wouldn’t be here without you guys. Thank you so much for your love and support.”
Lisa accepts the Best Pop Award for ‘Dream’ at the MTV Video Music Awards (AP)
The “New Woman” singer, who was also nominated for Best K-pop, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing this year, previously won Best K-pop three times as a solo artist, in 2022, 2024, and 2025.
She performed “SaWaDiKa”, her new hip-hop single named after the Thai greeting “sawatdee ka”, meaning “hello”.
The song, released earlier this month, is set to feature on her forthcoming EP Press Play, due on 23 October. It saw its first televised performance at the VMAs.
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The Thai singer, rapper and dancer balances her solo career with her work as a member of the K-pop group Blackpink. The band debuted in 2016 and reunited this year for its third mini album, Deadline.
She released her debut solo album Lalisa in 2021 and followed it with Alter Ego in 2025 and Press Play this year.
Lisa performed ‘SaWaDiKa’ from her forthcoming EP Press Play (Getty)
BTS, meanwhile, clean swept their three nominations. The Korean band won Song of the Year and Best K-pop for “Swim”, the lead single from their fifth studio album, Arirang, as well as Best Group.
The Song of the Year win is particularly significant: it was BTS’s first in the category and made them the first K-pop group to take the award.
The awards come as BTS return as a full seven-member group following a nearly four-year hiatus from group projects while they completed South Korea’s mandatory military service.
Arirang, released in March, was their first group album since Proof in 2022 and the first since all seven members had completed their service.
BTS won Song of the Year and Best K-pop for ‘Swim’ as well as Best Group (Getty)
BTS did not attend the ceremony because of scheduling conflicts, but accepted the awards through a statement released by their agency, Big Hit Music. “Arirang is like a new beginning for us, so receiving this award holds even greater meaning,” the group said, thanking ARMY, their global fanbase, for its support.
“We believe that winning the prestigious Song of the Year with “Swim” was possible thanks to everyone who loves our music.”
The members said they would “continue to present great music and performances together as seven members”.
The Best Group victory was BTS’s fifth in the category, after consecutive wins from 2019 to 2022. The Best K-pop win for “Swim” was their fourth in the category, extending a run that began in 2019.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
