At a Glance
- Jan. 11 ceremony featured Charli XCX, Usher, Chappell Roan and multiple Taylor Swift tracks
- Host Nikki Glaser walked onstage to Swift’s “Style” and called the singer’s catalog her confidence boost
- Viewers flooded social media asking “who is on aux?” after hearing 2007-2016 pop hits
- Why it matters: The music choices became a viral moment that rivaled the actual awards
The biggest surprise at the Golden Globes 2026 wasn’t a dress or a speech-it was the soundtrack. From the moment guests arrived at the Beverly Hilton on January 11, pop hits ruled the room, sparking instant memes and a single burning question online: who picked this playlist?
The Playlist That Stole the Show
The ceremony’s music lineup felt like a time capsule of the late 2000s and early 2010s. Organizers spun Charli XCX’s “Von Dutch,” Usher’s 2004 smash “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris, and Chappell Roan’s breakout “Pink Pony Club.”
When Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams stepped onstage, “Pink Pony Club” served as their entrance anthem. Multiple Taylor Swift cuts also echoed through the ballroom, a nod to self-proclaimed Swiftie and host Nikki Glaser.
Nikki Glaser’s Swift Strategy
For her second consecutive year emceeing, Glaser leaned on Swift’s discography for courage.
“I just want to have fun,” she told James O Connor Fields on the pre-show special. “I literally was having fun last time. I was surprisingly present. You don’t know until it happens. I hope that happens for me tonight when I walk out on stage-to a Taylor Swift song by the way.”
She got her wish. Glaser strutted out to “Style” from Swift’s 2014 album 1989.
“I never go out of style is all I’ll say,” she teased. “I’m so excited about it. It gives me this most confidence to strut out there to that song.”
The comedian also performed a parody musical medley tribute to “KPop Demon Hunters” and “Marty Supreme” during the telecast.
Social Media Erupts
Viewers at home couldn’t resist commenting on the song choices in real time.
- “The music playing at the golden globes is actually wild,” one user posted on X. “who is on aux?”
- Another joked, “what millennial is in charge of the music at the golden globes? everything is from like 2007-2016 lmao.”
- A viewer questioned the mismatch when Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Screenplay-Motion Picture for “One Battle After Another” and LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” blasted. “Why is Paul Thomas Anderson walking up to party rock anthem?”
The Night’s Big Winners
While the music dominated chatter, trophies still changed hands. Timothée Chalamet, Teyana Taylor, Jessie Buckley and others walked away with new hardware, as reported by News Of Philadelphia.
On the red carpet, Access Hollywood’s Scott Evans spoke with Leonardo DiCaprio about his upcoming film “One Battle After Another.” Cameras also caught DiCaprio hugging Chalamet after the younger star claimed Best Actor-the moment quickly circulated as a highlight alongside the playlist.
Key Takeaways
- The Golden Globes 2026 turned its musical interludes into viral gold by spinning nostalgic pop hits
- Host Nikki Glaser used Taylor Swift as both personal hype woman and comedic material
- Social media dubbed the soundtrack a millennial time capsule, amplifying engagement beyond the awards themselves
- Even a brief LMFAO cue during Paul Thomas Anderson’s victory became meme fodder, proving the right song-or hilariously wrong one-can outshine an acceptance speech
