Raja Kumari: First Indian-origin Musician to Win American Music Award

Raja Kumari, the acclaimed Indian-origin singer, songwriter, and rapper, made history in New Delhi, India in 2025 by becoming the first Indian-origin musician to win an American Music Award (AMA). She was honored at the 51st American Music Awards in Los Angeles, taking home the award in the “Favorite Soundtrack” category for her contribution to ‘Arcane League of Legends: Season 2’. Her song, ‘Renegade (We Never Run)’, which was a collaboration with UK hip-hop artist Stefflon Don and Dominican-Brazilian artist Zarina De Marco, received widespread acclaim at the event.

Expressing her joy and surprise at the victory, Raja Kumari shared with the media, “I always felt like an underdog.” She recalled a line from her own song, ‘City Slums’, stating, “All eyes are on the underdog.” This win, she explained, strongly reaffirmed her belief in herself, and she was incredibly happy to bring this award back to India. Raja Kumari also spoke about how she infused an Indian essence into the winning song, incorporating traditional Indian instruments like the “thaal” to beautifully showcase her culture. ‘

She believed that this victory signaled a shift in trends, indicating that people were increasingly appreciating her music. She expressed a desire to present even more of her unique sound to the world. The song ‘Renegade (We Never Run)’ had already gained significant international attention, reaching the top 10 globally on Spotify’s ‘Viral 50’ chart. Raja Kumari admitted she hadn’t had high expectations for the song, but its reception greatly impressed her and motivated her to work even harder.

She always considered herself a global artist, and this award served as a reminder to continue pushing boundaries and striving for greater heights. Her fans in India celebrated this momentous achievement as a proud moment for the nation. Having previously worked on title tracks for major projects, including Shah Rukh Khan’s film ‘Jawan’, Raja Kumari was reportedly planning to take on even bigger ventures.

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