EGOT Explained: Who Has Joined the Elite Group and Who Is Close to Making History?
EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
By: Sidney Paterra May. 26, 2025
Few honors in entertainment are as coveted—or as rare—as achieving EGOT status. This elite distinction marks a career filled with versatility, longevity, and extraordinary talent across multiple mediums. What does it all mean? We're taking a closer look at the artists who have managed to join one of the industry’s most exclusive clubs.
What is an EGOT?
An EGOT is not a single award, but a distinction given to individuals who have won all four of the major American entertainment awards, including: E – Emmy Award (television), G – Grammy Award (music/recording), O – Oscar (Academy Award – film), and T – Tony Award (theatre).
What is the significance of winning an EGOT?
Winning all four is considered one of the highest achievements in entertainment. Only a select few performers, composers, and creatives have earned this rare honor.
Who was the first person to win an EGOT?
Composer Richard Rodgers became the first person to win all four awards, which he earned between 1946 and 1962.
Who was the youngest person to win an EGOT?
The youngest people to reach EGOT status are composers Robert Lopez, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who all won their fourth award at 39 years old. Lopez is also the only person to have a double EGOT, or two awards in each category.
How many people have won an EGOT?
Only 21 people have achieved EGOT status in competitive categories. They are:
Mel Brooks
Emmy: Outstanding Writing achievement in a Variety Program, The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special (1967)
Grammy: Best Spoken Comedy Album, The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000 (1999)
Oscar: Best Story and Screenplay, The Producers (1969)
Tony: Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book, The Producers (2001)
Viola Davis
Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, How to Get Away with Murder (2015)
Grammy: Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording, Finding Me (2023)
Oscar: Best Supporting Actress, Fences (2017)
Tony: Best Featured Actress in a Play, King Hedley II (2001)
John Gielgud
Emmy: Outstanding Leading Actor in a Miniseries, Summer’s Lease (1991)
Grammy: Best Album for Children, The Emperor’s New Clothes (1980)
Oscar: Best Supporting Actor, Arthur (1982)
Tony: Best Director of a Play, Big Fish, Little Fish (1961)
Whoopi Goldberg
Emmy: Outstanding Special Class Special, Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel (2002)
Grammy: Best Comedy Recording, Whoopi Goldberg—Original Broadway Show Recording (1986)
Oscar: Best Supporting Actress, Ghost (1991)
Tony: Best Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002)
Marvin Hamlisch
Emmy: Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Direction, Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics, Barbra: The Concert (1995)
Grammy: Song of the Year, “The Way We Were”, Best New Artist, and Best Original Score, The Way We Were (1975)
Oscar: Best Original Dramatic Score, Best Song (“The Way We Were” from The Way We Were), Best Original Song Score and Adaptation (The Sting) (1974)
Tony: Best Original Score, A Chorus Line (1976)
Helen Hayes
Emmy: Best Actress, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars: Not a Chance (1953)
Grammy: Best Spoken Word Recording, Great American Documents (1977)
Oscar: Best Actress, The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1932)
Tony: Best Actress in a Play, Happy Birthday (1947)
Audrey Hepburn
Emmy: Outstanding Individual Achievement—Informational Programming, Gardens of the World (1993)
Grammy: Best spoken word album for children, Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales (1994)
Oscar: Best Actress, Roman Holiday (1954)
Tony: Best Leading Actress in a Play, Ondine (1954)
Jennifer Hudson
Emmy: Outstanding Interactive Media for a Daytime Program, Baba Yaga (2021)
Grammy: Best R&B Album, Jennifer Hudson (2009)
Oscar: Best Supporting Actress, Dreamgirls (2007)
Tony: Best Musical, A Strange Loop (2022)
Elton John
Emmy: Outstanding Variety Special, Farewell from Dodger Stadium (2024)
Grammy: Best Pop Performance by a duo or Group with Vocal, “That’s What Friends Are For” (1987)
Oscar: Best Original Song, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King (1995)
Tony: Best Original Score, Aida (2000)
John Legend
Emmy: Outstanding Variety Special, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (2018)
Grammy: Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (“Ordinary People”), and Best R&B Album (Get Lifted) (2006)
Oscar: Best Original Song, “Glory” from Selma (2015)
Tony: Best Revival of a Play, August Wilson’s Jitney (2017)
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Emmy: Outstanding Variety Special, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (2018)
Grammy: Best Cast Show Album, Evita: Premiere American Recording (1981)
Oscar: Best Original Song, “You Must Love Me” from Evita (1997)
Tony: Best Original Score, Evita (1980)
Robert Lopez
Emmy: Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition, Wonder Pets! (2008)
Grammy: Best Musical Theater Album, The Book of Mormon (2012)
Oscar: Best Original Song, “Let It Go” from Frozen (2014)
Tony: Best Original Score, Avenue Q (2004)
Alan Menken
Emmy: Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s Program, “Waiting in the Wings” from Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure (2020)
Grammy: Best Recording for Children (The Little Mermaid) and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television (“Under the Sea”) (1991)
Oscar: Best Original Score (The Little Mermaid) and Best Original Song (“Under the Sea”) (1991)
Tony: Best Original Score, Newsies (2012)
Rita Moreno
Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Variety or Musical Program, The Muppet Show (1977)
Grammy: Best Recording for Children, The Electric Company (1973)
Oscar: Best Supporting Actress, West Side Story (1962)
Tony: Best Featured Actress in a Play, The Ritz (1975)
Mike Nichols
Emmy: Outstanding Made-for-Television Movie, Wit (2001)
Grammy: Best Comedy Performance, An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May (1962)
Oscar: Best Director, The Graduate (1968)
Tony: Best Director of a Play, Barefoot in the Park (1964)
Benj Pasek
Emmy: Best Original Music and Lyrics, “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” from Only Murders in the Building (2024)
Grammy: Best Musical Theater Album, Dear Evan Hansen (2018)
Oscar: Best Original Song, “City of Stars” from La La Land (2017)
Tony: Best Original Score, Dear Evan Hansen (2017)
Justin Paul
Emmy: Best Original Music and Lyrics, “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” from Only Murders in the Building (2024)
Grammy: Best Musical Theater Album, Dear Evan Hansen (2018)
Oscar: Best Original Song, “City of Stars” from La La Land (2017)
Tony: Best Original Score, Dear Evan Hansen (2017)
Tim Rice
Emmy: Outstanding Variety Special, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (2018)
Grammy: Best Cast Show Album, Evita: Premiere American Recording (1981)
Oscar: Best original song, “A Whole New World” from Aladdin (1993)
Tony: Best Original Score, Evita (1980)
Richard Rodgers
Emmy: Original Music Composed for Television, Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years (1962)
Grammy: Best Show Album, The Sound of Music (1961)
Oscar: Best Song, “It Might as Well Be Spring” from State Fair (1946)
Tony: Best Producer (Musical), Best Original Score, Best Musical, South Pacific (1950)
Scott Rudin
Emmy: Outstanding Children’s Program, He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin’ (1984)
Grammy: Best Musical Theater Album, The Book of Mormon (2012)
Oscar: Best Picture, No Country for Old Men (2008)
Tony: Best Musical, Passion (1994)
Jonathan Tunick
Emmy: Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction, Night of 100 Stars (1982)
Grammy: Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s), “No One Is Alone” (1989)
Oscar: Best Original Score and its adaptation, “A Little Night Music” from A Little Night Music (1978)
Tony: Best Orchestrations, Titanic (1997)
Non competitive EGOT winners:
Another six artist have achieved non-competitive EGOTS, meaning at least one of their awards was received in a non-competitive or honorary category. They are:
Harry Belafonte
Emmy: "Tonight with Belafonte" (1960)
Grammy: Best Folk Performance, "Swing Dat Hammer" (1961)
*Oscar: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (2014)
Tony: Best Featured Actor in a Musical, John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1954)
James Earl Jones
Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries, Heat Wave (1991)
Grammy: Best Spoken Word Album, Great American Documents (1977)
Oscar: Best Actor, The Great White Hope (1970)
*Tony: Lifetime Achievement Award (2017)
Quincy Jones
Emmy: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series, Roots (1977)
Grammy: Best Instrumental Arrangement, "I Can't Stop Loving You" (1964)
*Oscar: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (1995)
Tony: Best Revival of a Musical, The Color Purple (2016)
Frank Marshall
Emmy: Outstanding Long Documentary, The Redeem Team (2023)
Grammy: Best Music Film, Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story (2023)
*Oscar: Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award (2019)
Tony: Best Musical, A Strange Loop (2022)
Liza Minnelli
Emmy: Outstanding Single Program – Variety and Popular Music, Liza with a Z (1973)
*Grammy: Grammy Living Legend Award (1990)
Oscar: Best Actress, Cabaret (1972)
Tony: Best Leading Actress in a Musical, Flora the Red Menace (1965)
Barbra Streisand
Emmy: Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment, My Name Is Barbra (1965)
Grammy: Album of the Year, The Barbra Streisand Album (1964)
Oscar: Best Actress, Funny Girl (1969)
*Tony: Star of the Decade (1970)
Who is close to winning an EGOT?
Kristen Anderson-Lopez: EGO
Julie Andrews: EGO
Jon Batiste: EGO
Ellen Burstyn: EOT
Cher: EGO
Common: EGO
Eminem: EGO
Cynthia Erivo: EGT
Michael Giacchino: EGO
Ludwig Göransson: EGO
Hildur Guðnadottir: EGO
H.E.R.: EGO
Ron Howard: EGO
Jeremy Irons: EOT
Hugh Jackman: EGT
Rachel Bay Jones: EGT
Alex Lacamoire: EGT
Jessica Lange: EOT
Cyndi Lauper: EGT
Barry Manilow: EGT
Paul McCartney: EGO
Lin-Manuel Miranda: EGT
Audra McDonald: EGT
Frances McDormand: EOT
Bette Midler: EGT
Helen Mirren: EOT
James Moll: EGO
Randy Newman: EGO
Cynthia Nixon: EGT
Al Pacino: EOT
Trey Parker: EGT
Ben Platt: EGT
Billy Porter: EGT
Vanessa Redgrave: EOT
Trent Reznor: EGO
Atticus Ross: EGO
Geoffrey Rush: EOT
Martin Scorsese: EGO
Ringo Starr: EGO
Matt Stone: EGT
Lily Tomlin: EGT
Dick Van Dyke: EGT
John Williams: EGO
Kate Winslet: EGO
Videos