1 week Ago By Paul Grein
When Benj Pasek and Justin Paul won a Primetime Emmy on night 2 of the Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday (Sept. 8, 2024), they became EGOTs, having won at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony in competition. They won their Emmy for outstanding music and lyrics for a song they co-wrote for Only Murders in the Building.
They co-wrote the song “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” with another songwriting team, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Only 21 people have achieved EGOT status, which has become the ultimate mic-drop move in show business. If the original idea of becoming an EGOT meant going to the very top in four distinct fields of entertainment, shortcuts have materialized to getting there, which has made the achievement more commonplace and less worthy of awe.
The Tonys award producer credits far too liberally . Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Hudson won their Tony Awards for being among a platoon of producers of a winning Broadway show. Hudson was one of more than 40 producers on A Strange Loop .
Her participation was announced the day before the show began previews in April 2022. It won the Tony two months later. And not all EGOT awards are equally easy or hard to get.
There are currently just 23 categories at the Oscars and 26 at the Tony Awards. Far more awards are handed out at the Grammys (94 categories this year) and the Primetime Emmys (a whopping 123 categories this year, spread out over three nights). And that doesn’t even count the various other Emmy shows, such as the Daytime Emmys and the Children’s and Family Emmys.
We mentioned earlier that the definition of EGOT is having won at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony in competition. There’s some debate about that. Six more individuals — Barbra Streisand , Liza Minnelli , James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte , Quincy Jones and director/producer Frank Marshall — qualify if you count honorary or special awards.
However, most EGOT experts don’t count non-competitive awards. The whole point is to have won the awards in competition. Here’s a comprehensive rundown on the competitive winners’ road to EGOT.
EGOT’ed: May 22, 1962 Emmy: The legendary composer clinched his EGOT status – a term that wouldn’t be coined for another 22 years – at the 1962 Emmys when he won outstanding achievement in original music composed for television for the docuseries Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years . Grammy: In 1960, five years before The Sound of Music became a blockbuster film, Rodgers and Hammerstein won a Grammy, best show album (original cast), for the album from the Broadway show. Following Hammerstein’s death, Rodgers won on his own in that same category in 1962 for No Strings .
Oscar: Rodgers began his EGOT journey with a win for best original song in 1946 for the wistful Rodgers & Hammerstein ballad “It Might as Well be Spring” from State Fair . Tony: At the 1950 Tonys, Rodgers won three awards, including best musical, for South Pacific . Rodgers and Hammerstein won best musical two more times – for The King and I (1952) and The Sound of Music (1960).
Notes: Rodgers died in 1979, never having heard the acronym EGOT. Miami Vice star Philip Michael Thomas is credited with coining the term in 1984. Rodgers was the only person to qualify for EGOT status for nearly 15 years, until.
.. EGOT’ed: Feb.
19, 1977 Emmy: In 1953, when the Emmys were in their infancy, there were far fewer categories. Hayes claimed the best actress trophy for an episode of Schlitz Playhouse of Stars . Grammy: Hayes clinched her EGOT status in 1977 when she won a Grammy for best spoken word album alongside Henry Fonda, James Earl Jones and Orson Welles for Great American Documents .
Oscar: Hayes began her EGOT journey in 1932 by winning an Oscar for best actress for playing a prostitute in The Sin of Madelon Claudet . She won a second Oscar for best supporting actress 39 years later as a stowaway in Airport . Tony: Known as “the First Lady of American Theater,” Hayes won her first Tony, best actress in a play, in the comedic play Happy Birthday .
She won again in that category 11 years later for Time Remembered . Notes: Hayes was the first woman and the first performer to EGOT. EGOT’ed: Sept.
11, 1977 Emmy: Moreno clinched her EGOT with an Emmy for outstanding continuing or single performance by a supporting actress in variety or music for an episode of The Muppet Show . She won another Emmy the following year for outstanding lead actress for a single appearance in a drama or comedy series for an episode of The Rockford Files . Grammy: Moreno and the now disgraced Bill Cosby won best recording for children in 1973 for The Electric Company .
Oscar: Moreno began her EGOT journey by winning an Oscar for best supporting actress in 1962 for West Side Story . She beat the sentimental favorite, Judy Garland, who was nominated for Judgment at Nuremberg . Moreno’s Oscar acceptance speech consisted of just 11 words: “I can’t believe it! Good Lord.
I leave you with that!” Tony: Moreno sang “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” in The Ritz , and won the 1975 Tony for best featured actress in a play. Notes: Moreno, who was born in Puerto Rico, was the first person of Latin origin to EGOT. No one else EGOT’ed for nearly 14 years, until .
.. EGOT’ed: Aug.
25, 1991 Emmy: Gielgud clinched his EGOT with a 1991 Emmy win for outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or a special for playing Haverford Downs in Summer’s Lease . Grammy: Sir John won best spoken word, documentary or drama recording in 1980 for narrating Ages of Man: Readings from Shakespeare . Oscar: A “serious” actor known for highbrow performances, it was ironically his part in the Dudley Moore comedy Arthur that put the “O” in his EGOT in 1982 with a win for best supporting actor.
Tony: Gielgud began his EGOT journey in 1961 with a Tony win as best director of a drama for the play Big Fish, Little Fish . Notes: Gielgud was the first EGOT born outside of the U.S.
(in England) and the first LGBTQ EGOT. He remains the oldest EGOT on completing the awards sweep – 87 years and four months. EGOT’ed: March 1, 1994 Emmy: Eight months after Hepburn died from cancer, she was awarded the 1993 Emmy for outstanding individual achievement – informational programming for Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn .
Grammy: Hepburn clinched her EGOT status in 1994, by posthumously winning best spoken word album for children for her narration of Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales . Oscar: Hepburn began her EGOT journey in 1954 by winning an Oscar for best actress for her role as a princess playing hooky in Roman Holiday . Tony: Just three days after her Oscar win, she won a Tony for distinguished dramatic actress for Ondine .
Now, that’s a good week. Notes: Hepburn is the only EGOT who won just one of each of the four awards – just enough to qualify. EGOT’ed: Sept.
9, 1995 Emmy: The late composer and conductor clinched his EGOT in 1995 by winning his first two Emmys for his work on Barbra: The Concert . He first worked with Barbra Streisand on Broadway when he was the rehearsal pianist on Funny Girl . He later won two more Emmys, one of them for a subsequent project with Streisand.
Grammy: Hamlisch won four Grammys in 1975, including song of the year for “The Way We Were” and best new artist. Oscar: Hamlisch kicked off his EGOT journey with a bang, winning three Oscars in one night – best original song for “The Way We Were,” best original dramatic score for the Streisand/Robert Redford movie of the same name, and best original song score and adaptation or scoring: adaptation for The Sting . Tony: Along with lyricist Edward Kleban, Hamlisch won best musical score in 1976 for A Chorus Line .
EGOT’ed: June 1, 1997 Emmy: The native New Yorker won an Emmy in 1982 for outstanding achievement in music direction on the star-studded variety special Night of 100 Stars . Grammy: As the arranger for “No One is Alone” on the album Cleo Laine Sings Sondheim , Tunick — a frequent Stephen Sondheim cohort — picked up best instrumental arrangement accompanying vocal(s). Oscar: Tunick began his EGOT journey in 1978 by winning an Oscar for best original song score and its adaptation or adaptation score for the film treatment of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music (which contained the composer’s most famous song, “Send in the Clowns”).
Tony: Tunick clinched his EGOT with a 1997 win for best orchestrations for Titanic – the Broadway show, not James Cameron’s concurrent film megahit. He won his second Tony in 2024 – best orchestrations for a revival of Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along. Notes: Just as Hamlisch won three of the four EGOT awards for work with Streisand, Tunick won three of the four awards for Sondheim-connected work.
EGOT’ed: June 3, 2001 Emmy: Brooks began his EGOT journey in 1967 by winning an Emmy for outstanding writing achievement in variety for The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special – a reunion of the fabled cast from the 1950s classic Your Show of Shows . He went on to win three more Emmys in consecutive years (1997-99) for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for Mad About You . Grammy: Brooks reteamed with Carl Reiner for a sequel to their famous 1961 routine, “The 2000 Year Old Man.
” The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000 won best spoken comedy album in 1999. Brooks later won two more Grammys for works linked to his Broadway smash, The Producers . Oscar: Brooks won best original screenplay for The Producers in 1969.
Tony: In 2001, The Producers won 12 Tonys, still the most by any show in Tony history. Brooks personally took home three awards that night – best musical, best book of a musical and best original score. Notes: Brooks, his late wife Anne Bancroft, and their son Max Brooks have all won Emmys.
EGOT’ed: Nov. 4, 2001 Emmy: Nichols won two Emmys in 2001 for the televised adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Wit. He won two more Emmys three years later for Angels in America .
Grammy: Nichols began his EGOT journey in 2001 in tandem with then-partner Elaine May, winning a Grammy for best comedy performance for An Evening With Mike Nichols and Elaine May . Oscar: Here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson.
Nichols scored the best director statue in 1968 for his work on the generation-defining classic The Graduate . Tony: Nichols won his first Tony in 1964 – best direction of a play for Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park . He won eight more Tonys, for works ranging from Annie to Death of a Salesman .
EGOT’ed: June 2, 2002 Emmy: Goldberg’s only Emmys are a pair of Daytime Emmys. In 2002, she won outstanding special class special for Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel . (Read on and you’ll see the significance of the McDaniel connection.
) Seven years later, Goldberg won in a higher-profile category, outstanding talk show host as one of the co-hosts of The View , alongside Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters. Grammy: Goldberg began her EGOT journey in 1986 by winning a Grammy for best comedy album for Whoopi Goldberg: Original Broadway Show Recording . Oscar: Goldberg won best supporting actress in 1991 for Ghost .
She was the first Black actress to win an Oscar (leading or supporting) since Hattie McDaniel 51 years earlier for Gone With The Wind . Tony: Two weeks after winning her first Daytime Emmy, Goldberg clinched her EGOT by winning a Tony as a producer of Thoroughly Modern Millie , which won as best musical. Notes: Goldberg was the first Black performer to EGOT.
No one else EGOT’ed for nearly 10 years, until ...
EGOT’ed: Feb. 12, 2012 Emmy: The producer began his EGOT journey with an Emmy win in 1984 for outstanding children’s program for He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin,’ a documentary about ballet star Jacques d’Amboise. Grammy: Rudin clinched his EGOT with a Grammy win for best musical theater album for The Book of Mormon : Original Broadway Cast Recording .
Oscar: Rudin and The Coen Brothers co-produced No Country for Old Men , the best picture winner in 2008. Tony: Rudin won his first Tony in 1994 – best musical for Passion , which featured music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine. Rudin has since won 17 more Tonys.
Notes: Rudin was the first person who is known primarily as a producer to EGOT. EGOT’ed: March 2, 2014 Emmy: Lopez’s first Emmy was a Daytime Emmy in 2008 for outstanding music direction and composition for Wonder Pets! . He won another Daytime Emmy for the same show two years later.
He has since also won a Primetime Emmy and a Children’s and Family Emmy. Grammy: Lopez won his first Grammy – best musical theater album – in 2012 for his work on The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording . He won two additional Grammys three years later for Frozen.
Oscar: Lopez clinched his EGOT in 2014 with an Oscar win for best original song for “Let It Go” from Frozen . He shared the award with his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez. They won again in the same category four years later with “Remember Me” from Coco .
Tony: Lopez began his EGOT quest with a Tony win for best original score in 2004 for the trippy puppet musical Avenue Q . He won two more Tonys in 2011 for The Book of Mormon . Notes: Lopez, who was 39 when he became an EGOT, remains the youngest EGOT to date.
He collected all four awards in just nine years and eight months, faster than anyone else to that point. He was the first Filipino and Asian to achieve the feat. And he’s the only “double EGOT” – having won each of the four awards twice.
EGOT’ed: Sept. 9, 2018 Emmy: Webber clinched his EGOT with a Primetime Emmy in 2018 as an executive producer of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert , which was voted outstanding variety special (live). Grammy: Webber won his first Grammy in 1981 – best cast show album for Evita .
He has since won two more Grammys. Oscar: Webber won best original song in 1997 for “You Must Love Me” from Evita . Tony: Webber began his EGOT journey with a Tony win for best original score for Evita .
He has since won five more Tonys, including best musical for Cats , The Phantom of the Opera and Sunset Boulevard . EGOT’ed: Sept. 9, 2018 Emmy: Rice clinched his EGOT with a Primetime Emmy in 2018 as an executive producer of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert , which was voted outstanding variety special (live).
Grammy: Rice won his first Grammy in 1981 — best cast show album for Evita . He has since won four more Grammys, including song of the year for “A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme).” Oscar: Rice won three Oscars for best original song in a five-year span from 1993-97 – each with a different collaborator.
He won for “A Whole New World” from Aladdin , “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King and “You Must Love Me” from Evita . Tony: Rice began his EGOT journey in 1980 when he won two Tonys for Evita . He has since won a third for Aida .
Notes: Rice shares all of these awards with fellow EGOTs Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alan Menken and Elton John. EGOT’ed: Sept. 9, 2018 Emmy: Legend clinched his EGOT with a Primetime Emmy in 2018 as an executive producer of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert , which was voted outstanding variety special (live).
He has since also won three Daytime Emmys. Grammy: Legend began his EGOT journey in 2006 when he won three Grammys – best new artist, best R&B album for Get Lifted and best male R&B vocal performance for “Ordinary People.” He has since won nine more Grammys.
Oscar: Legend and Common won best original song in 2015 for “Glory” from Selma . Tony: He won best revival of a play in 2017 as a producer of August Wilson’s Jitney. Notes: Legend was the first Black man to become an EGOT.
EGOT’ed: June 26, 2020 Emmy: Menken clinched his EGOT with a Daytime Emmy for outstanding original song in a children’s, young adult or animated program for “Waiting in the Wings” from Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure . Grammy: Menken won his first two Grammys in 1991 for The Little Mermaid and its song “Under the Sea.” He has since won nine additional Grammys, including song of the year in 1994 for “A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme)” from Aladdin .
Oscar: Menken has won best original song four times – which puts him in a tie for the all-time record with Sammy Cahn, Johnny Mercer and Jimmy Van Heusen. (Menken is the only one of the four songwriters who is still living.) He has also won best original score four times.
Remarkably, he won all eight of those Oscars in a seven-year span, from 1990-96. Tony: Menken won his only Tony in 2012 – best original score for Newsies, based on the 1992 film musical of the same name. EGOT’ed: June 12, 2022 Emmy: Hudson won a Daytime Emmy in 2021 – outstanding interactive media for a daytime program for Baba Yaga.
Grammy: Hudson won her first Grammy in 2009 – best R&B album for her eponymous debut album. She won her second eight years later, best musical theater album for The Color Purple . Oscar: Hudson began her EGOT journey in 2007 with a best supporting actress win for Dreamgirls .
Tony: Hudson clinched her EGOT by winning best musical (as one of dozens of producers of A Strange Loop .) Notes: Hudson was 40 years and nine months old when she became an EGOT, making her the youngest woman to achieve the feat. EGOT’ed: Feb.
5, 2023 Emmy: Davis won outstanding lead actress in a drama series in 2015 for How to Get Away With Murder. Grammy: She clinched EGOT status with a Grammy win for best audio book, narration & storytelling recording in 2023 for Finding Me. Oscar: Davis won best supporting actress in 2017 for Fences.
It was the same role for which she had won a Tony as a leading actress. By competing at the Oscars in the supporting category, she avoided going head-to-head with best actress winner Emma Stone in the blockbuster La La Land . Tony: Davis began her EGOT journey with a Tony win in 2001 – best featured actress in a play, for King Hedley II .
She won her second, best leading actress in a play, in 2010 for Fences . Both plays were written by August Wilson. EGOT’ed: Jan.
15, 2024 Emmy: Elton clinched his EGOT status with an Emmy win in 2024 – outstanding variety special (live) for Elton John: Farewell from Dodger Stadium. Grammy: Elton began his EGOT quest with a (long-overdue) Grammy win in 1987 – best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal for his role in Dionne & Friends’ “That’s What Friends Are For.” He has since won four more Grammys, including two for best male pop vocal performance.
Oscar: He has won two Oscars for best original song – “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King in 1995 and “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman in 2020. Tony: Elton and Tim Rice won best original score in 2001 for Aida . Notes: Elton, who was 76 years and nine months old when he became an EGOT, is the second-oldest EGOT at time of completion.
Only Sir John Gielgud was older. EGOT’ed: Sept. 8, 2024 Emmy: Pasek and Paul clinched their EGOT status with a Primetime Emmy win: outstanding music and lyrics for a song they co-wrote for Only Murders in the Building .
Grammy: They won their first Grammy, best musical theater album, in January 2018 for Dear Evan Hansen and their second, best compilation soundtrack for visual media, in February 2019 for The Greatest Showman . Oscar: Pasek and Paul began their EGOT quest with an Oscar for best original song. They won in February 2017 for co-writing “City of Stars” from La La Land .
Tony: They won a Tony for best original score in June 2017 for Dear Evan Hansen and won a second Tony in June 2022 for being among the platoon of producers of A Strange Loop , which was voted best musical. Notes: Pasek and Paul set a new record for the fastest climb to an EGOT — a little less than seven years and seven months from the date of their first EGOT win. The previous record was held by Robert Lopez, who took nine years and eight months from the time he collected his first EGOT award in June 2004 to the time he completed the journey in March 2014.
In addition, Pasek, who is 39 years and three months old, is the second-youngest EGOT winner ever, trailing only Lopez, who was 39 and one week old when he achieved the feat in March 2014..
