From collaborating with Coldplay and Megan Thee Stallion to going No. 1 with singles like “Butter” and “Permission to Dance,” BTS had such an eventful 2021. Here were just 13 of the group’s most memorable moments from the past year.
BTS’ debut performance on MTV Unplugged was one for the books. Their setlist included four songs off their Be album — “Telepathy,” “Blue & Grey,” “Life Goes On,” and “Dynamite” — as well as an emotional cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You.”
BTS made history at the 2021 Grammys by becoming the first Korean act to perform on the show as a nominee. They performed “Dynamite” virtually from Korea, where they recreated the Grammys stage on top of Parc1 Tower in Yeouido, Seoul.
Six months after dropping their Be album in November 2020, BTS returned with “Butter” in May. The track debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, marking the group’s fourth No. 1 single. It went on to become the longest-running No. 1 song of 2021.
Who could forget the time BTS and McDonald’s teamed up to launch the BTS Meal? Their collaboration included an entire promotional schedule complete with concept photos and behind-the-scenes videos.
BTS made their second comeback of 2021 with “Permission to Dance.” The song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, replacing “Butter.” The achievement made BTS the first act to replace themselves at No. 1 since Drake did so in 2018.
BTS attended the United Nations General Assembly again this year. South Korean President Moon Jae-in invited the group to accompany him at the event as his Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture. While there, BTS also performed “Permission to Dance.”
Four months after their Muster Sowoozoo, BTS surprised fans with yet another virtual concert: Permission to Dance On Stage, which took place at Seoul Olympic Stadium in October. Fans from all around the world tuned in to see the group perform their biggest hits.
BTS gave ARMYs two mind-blowing performances at the 2021 AMAs. Besides performing “Butter,” the group joined Coldplay on stage for “My Universe.” There were so many cute moments between the two groups during the performance, and fans lived for them.
BTS received a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2022 Grammys, marking their second nomination in the category in two years, as well as their second Grammy nomination overall.
After Megan Thee Stallion announced she couldn’t perform with BTS at the 2021 AMAs, she surprised fans by making an appearance at the group’s second Permission to Dance On Stage concert in LA. Together, they performed their “Butter” remix, which they released in August.
Jin’s 29th birthday was one to remember. Why? He celebrated with fans IRL at iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball. Considering the concert marked one of BTS’ first performances with a live audience in two years, ARMYs were so thankful that they got to spend Jin’s big day with him.
After announcing they were going on another break, BTS opened up personal Instagram accounts to keep connected with each other and their fans. They earned millions of followers within hours of joining the app, and V even broke two Guinness World Records.
BTS ended 2021 by appearing on The Late Late Show With James Corden again. This time, they participated in the show’s crosswalk concert series, which sees celebrities performing in the middle of a crosswalk. The septet performed “Dynamite,” “Butter,” and “Permission to Dance.”