Entertainment
The Internet Is Roasting the Golden Globes DJ — Here Are Some of the Wildest Song Choices from the 2026 Ceremony
NEED TO KNOW
- The 2026 Golden Globes were held on Sunday, Jan. 11 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
- One of the most-talked-about aspects of the night was the DJ who selected the walk-up music for presenters and winners
- Some of the more puzzling song choices included “Yeah!” by Usher, which played during Stellan Skarsgård’s winner’s walk
For many celebrities, the 2026 Golden Globes was their moment to bask in the glory of hard work being recognized, all set to radio hits from the aughties.
As stars like Timothée Chalamet and Teyana Taylor nabbed the night’s big honors on Sunday, Jan. 11, many on social media puzzled over the ceremony’s soundtrack of decades-old pop tunes.
When Stellan Skarsgård accepted the trophy for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for Sentimental Value, Usher’s 2004 hit “Yeah!” played in the room at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.
As Macaulay Culkin took the stage to present, the DJ opted for an on-the-nose selection: “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison. The Heated Rivalry stars entered to “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan; a big moment for Adolescence was soundtracked by the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Heads Will Roll.”
Later in the night, Rihanna’s “We Found Love” blared as One Battle After Another‘s cast and crew did the winner’s walk for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy).
The internet took notice, of course, with one X user teasing, “the Golden Globes hired the best bar mitzvah DJ money could buy.”
“They had one rule at the Golden Globes and it’s that every musical cue has to be an artist who performed at Jingle Ball,” another X user quipped.
Many couldn’t get over 74-year-old Skårsgard’s “Yeah” moment: “The person in the DJ booth was just blindly hitting s— because what do you mean Stellan Skarsgard went up to accept his award to Yeah! by Usher.”
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Others loved the choices; wrote journalist Rachel Leishman: “The dj of the golden globes is having FUN.”
While a Getty image of a DJ at the awards show on Sunday showed a computer bearing the name “DJ Maxx,” the Golden Globes did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s inquiry about the evening’s DJ’s identity.
This year’s big Golden Globe winners were stars like Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Amy Poehler and more. Movies like Hamnet and One Battle After Another took top honors, and shows like Adolescence and The Pitt were deservedly recognized.
See PEOPLE’s coverage of the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards, hosted by Nikki Glaser at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. EST, which aired on CBS and is streaming on Paramount+.
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