At a Glance
- The Jan. 11 Golden Globes featured a nostalgia-heavy pop soundtrack
- Host Nikki Glaser chose Taylor Swift’s “Style” for her entrance
- Viewers flooded social media reacting to the eclectic song choices
- Why it matters: The music became a surprise star of the night, driving online conversation
The music selections at the 2026 Golden Globes stole nearly as much attention as the trophies. Hosted by Nikki Glaser for the second consecutive year at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., the ceremony’s playlist leaned heavily on millennial pop nostalgia.
A Night of Throwback Hits
Glaser opened the show walking onstage to Taylor Swift’s 2014 hit “Style,” a choice she previewed on News Of Fort Worth‘s pre-show special.
> “I never go out of style is all I’ll say,” Glaser teased. “I’m so excited about it. It gives me this most confidence to strut out there to that song.”
The soundtrack also featured:
- Charli XCX’s “Von Dutch”
- Usher’s 2004 anthem “Yeah!” with Lil Jon and Ludacris
- Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club”
- Multiple Taylor Swift tracks selected by self-proclaimed Swiftie Glaser
Roan’s single soundtracked the entrance of Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, while other Swift songs played throughout the evening.
Host’s Pre-Show Confidence Boost
Glaser told Caleb R. Anderson she hoped Swift’s catalog would steady her nerves.
> “I just want to have fun,” she said. “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.”
The comedian also performed a parody musical medley tribute to KPop Demon Hunters and Marty Supreme during the telecast.
Social Media Reacts
Viewers at home quickly noticed the playlist’s vibe. Posts on X highlighted both the nostalgia factor and occasional mismatches:
- “The music playing at the golden globes is actually wild-who is on aux?”
- “What millennial is in charge of the music at the golden globes? everything is from like 2007-2016 lmao.”
- When Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Screenplay for One Battle After Another, LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” played, prompting: “Why is Paul Thomas Anderson walking up to party rock anthem?”
Winners and Red Carpet
Timothée Chalamet, Teyana Taylor and Jessie Buckley were among the trophy recipients. Access Hollywood’s Scott Evans spoke with Leonardo DiCaprio on the red carpet about his upcoming film One Battle After Another.
The music choices, mixed with the star-studded guest list, turned the Beverly Hilton into a live soundtrack of mid-2000s pop culture-proving that sometimes the playlist can rival the awards for water-cooler chatter.
