“The queen is back” — Fans celebrate as BLACKPINK’s Jennie wins first ever solo M Countdown for ‘Mantra’ after 8-year stage return

BLACKPINK’s Jennie made a highly anticipated return to the "M Countdown" stage on October 17, 2024, marking her first solo performance on the show in six years. She performed her latest hit, "Mantra," showcasing a fresh and intricate choreography tailored for the Korean audience. The last time she graced this stage was with BLACKPINK in 2018, making her solo appearance all the more significant.

In addition to her performance, she also claimed her first-ever Korean music show win as a solo artist with Mantra. Competing against Aespa’s Karina and her song Up, Jennie triumphed with an impressive total of 7,894 points, earning praise from fans and setting another milestone in her solo career. Fans are busy celebrating this win, and took to social media to express their happiness:

"The queen is back."

Many fans took to X to celebrate their idol's win, talking about the idol's victorious return to this stage after 8 years.

“8 years since she last step foot on Mcountdown and she won first place. So proud of you,” stated a fan.

“Keep dominating, queen,” said a user.

“Been long since she performed at a korean music show, and a win has welcomed her back to the stage to more solo stages for the ace —we’ll always be waiting” wrote another user.

Many fans congratulated the singer, and some also urged other fans to keep supporting the singer and voting for her.

“Congrats, Jennie! So proud of you for your first win with “MANTRA”! You deserve all the love!” commented a fan.

“WELL DESERVED,” wrote another fan.

“Jennie didn’t even have full tracking time for mcountdown and she still managed to get the FULL 5K digital points do you know how insane that is…. mantra can get so many more music show wins but we need to keep voting,” commented a user.

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Jennie wins her first Korean music award as a solo artist

Jennie’s latest single Mantra, released on October 11, 2024, has been generating excitement across the K-pop world. The single marks her first release under her own label, OA (Oddatelier), which she launched earlier in 2024.

In a recent Vogue interview, she explained the meaning behind the song saying that Mantra is an empowering song meant to inspire confidence in women, encouraging them to embrace their strength and uniqueness. She also performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on October .

On October 17, 2024, Jennie made her highly anticipated return to M Countdown, marking her first appearance on the show since BLACKPINK performed Playing with Fire in November 2016. Fans were thrilled to see her return to the stage, but this time as a solo artist, marking a significant milestone in her career. She performed Mantra in a striking red, black, and white outfit, complete with a striped tie, which added flair to the powerful choreography that stunned the audience.

Jennie’s performance wasn't just a comeback but also a victory. Her song competed against Aespa’s Karina, and the BLACKPINK star ultimately took home the win, securing 7,894 points. This achievement is particularly meaningful for her, as it represents her first solo win on a Korean music show. Fans were overjoyed, expressing their pride in the star's growth and ability to stand out as a solo artist, not just as a member of BLACKPINK.

In addition to the You & Me singer, the night was filled with performances from other top K-pop acts like SEVENTEEN, ITZY, Billlie, CNBLUE, and many more, making it an exciting event for K-pop enthusiasts.