Katherine Jenkins records classical version of KPop Demon Hunters' 'Golden' for Christmas
Welsh mezzo-soprano learns Korean for the project and will perform the track at the Royal Variety Show, alongside the national anthem
Katherine Jenkins, the Welsh mezzo-soprano, has recorded a classical reinterpretation of 'Golden,' the viral hit from Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters. The arrangement reimagines the song as a Christmas aria, with the film's girl group HUNTR/X providing the original performance and Jenkins delivering a lush, orchestral treatment. Netflix says KPop Demon Hunters, released in the summer of 2025, became the streaming service's most-watched original title.
Jenkins told BBC Wales that the song's empowering message resonated with her, and she said it could translate into a sweeping classical setting. The project also required her to learn some Korean, a first for the singer, as she worked to capture the track’s cross-cultural spirit.
During the recording process, Jenkins collaborated with producers and musicians to balance the contemporary pop melody with a rich orchestral texture. The arrangement preserves the song’s buoyant energy while giving it a scale suitable for concert halls. The track also features a children's chorus toward the end, and Jenkins revealed that her eldest daughter Aaliyah joined the session after school to record her part, a moment she described as special for the family and for the final mix.
Jenkins is slated to perform the classical version of 'Golden' at the Royal Variety Show this Sunday, in addition to delivering the national anthem. She described the moment as emotionally meaningful, noting the song's themes of empowerment and resilience align with the event’s atmosphere and with the season’s spirit.
Christmas has long been a favorite time of year for Jenkins, a time she associates with choir-led traditions from Neath. She said the project has been a joy to pursue, underscoring how collaborative family moments can intersect with a global pop phenomenon and a classical interpretation that appeals to broader audiences.
The Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters, released in summer 2025, has become its most-watched original title. The story follows K-pop stars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, who lead double lives as guardians of the world. Its high-energy music and dance sequences helped propel the movie to a massive, worldwide following, and the new classical take on 'Golden' serves as a bridge between the film’s dynamic soundtrack and Jenkins’s storied concert repertoire.