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All 19 EGOT Winners, from Rita Moreno to Elton John

This club is exclusive

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Hollywood is teeming with talented filmmakers, composers and entertainers, but only a select few have secured the coveted EGOT title. Often called the grand slam of show business, this group is exclusive to those who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award—all of which represent the highest honors in television, music, film and theater. To date, only 19 celebrities have joined the EGOT winners club (not counting those with honorary, non-competitive awards—like James Earl Jones and Barbra Streisand).

Musician Elton John is one of the latest Hollywood celebs to achieve EGOT status, thanks to his win at the 75th annual Emmy Awards. His special, Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium, won the statuette for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), which made him the 19th person to attain the honor.

So, what other artists have accomplished this amazing feat? From Rita Moreno to John Legend, keep reading for a full list of EGOT winners.

Jennifer Hudson Just Reached EGOT Status After Winning Her First Tony


WHAT IS AN EGOT?

An EGOT isn't a physical award. Instead, it's a status given to outstanding performers who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. Achieving this rare feat is often called the "grand slam" of show business.

The acronym was first coined in 1984 by actor Philip Michael Thomas when he rose to superstardom after appearing in Miami Vice. Per Vanity Fair, he started wearing a gold medallion with the letters “EGOT,” which stood for “Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.” And during one of his interviews in 1984, he said, “Hopefully in the next five years, I will win all of those awards.”

Fast-forward to 2008, when the show 30 Rock popularized the term by using "EGOT status" as a recurring plotline. Since then, the term has been widely used to describe performers who had won all four awards.

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1. Richard Rodgers

The skilled composer and songwriter has worked on dozens of well-known titles, from The King and I to The Sound of Music. By 1961, Richard Rodgers made history as the first person to win all four of the biggest entertainment awards. His accolades include an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composed (Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years), an Oscar for Best Song ("It Might as Well Be Spring") and two Grammys (for The Sound of Music and No Strings). Rodgers completed his collection with five Tony wins, including three for South Pacific, one for The King and I and one for No Strings. (Fun fact: He’s one of two people to have won these awards and a Pulitzer Prize, making him a PEGOT winner.)

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2. Helen Hayes

Also considered the First Lady of American Theater, Helen Hayes became the first woman to achieve EGOT status and win the Triple Crown of Acting (when an actor wins an Oscar, Emmy and Tony). She won an Emmy for Best Actress (Schlitz Playhouse of Stars: Not a Chance), a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Recording (Great American Documents) and one Oscar for Best Actress (The Sin of Madelon Claudet) and one for Best Supporting Actress (Airport). Hayes also earned two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Drama—one for Happy Birthday and one for Time Remembered.

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3. Rita Moreno

The Puerto Rican star was the reigning queen of the entertainment industry during the Golden Age of Hollywood, thanks to her appearance in classics like Singin’ in the Rain, The King and I and West Side Story. And aside from winning the four biggest entertainment awards, she also achieved the Triple Crown of Acting. Rita Moreno received Emmys for Best Supporting Actress, Variety or Music (The Muppet Show) and Best Lead Actress for Single Appearance in a Comedy or Drama (The Rockford Files). She also won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children (The Electric Company), an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (West Side Story) and a Tony for Best Supporting Actress in a Play (The Ritz).

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4. John Gielgud

Throughout his 80-year career, John Gielgud won an Emmy for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Special, (Summer's Lease), a Grammy for Best Spoken World Album (Ages of Man) and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (Arthur). The legendary actor also scored two Tonys: one for Outstanding Foreign Company (The Importance of Being Earnest) and Best Director of a Drama (Big Fish, Little Fish). 

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5. Audrey Hepburn

Best known for her iconic roles in films like Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn boasts several accolades. In 1953, she scored an Academy Award for Best Actress for Roman Holiday. And the following year, she won a Tony for Best Actress in the play Ondine. Fast-forward to 1993, and the actress has won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement—Informational Programming for her docuseries, Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn. And in the following year, she added a Grammy to her collection after Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales won for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.

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6. Marvin Hamlisch

Like Richard Rodgers, this famous composer accomplished the rare feat by winning all four EGOT awards and a Pulitzer Prize, making Marvin Hamlisch the second PEGOT winner. He received four Emmys, including two for his work on Barbra: The Concert, one for AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies and another for Barbra Streisand: Timeless. Hamlisch then received four Grammys in 1975, winning for Best New Artist, Song of the Year ("The Way We Were"), Best Album of the Original Score (The Way We Were) and Best Pop Instrumental Performance ("The Entertainer"). He also has three Oscar wins under his belt, including Best Song for "The Way We Were," and a Tony for Best Musical Score (A Chorus Line).

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7. Jonathan Tunick

A man of many talents, the orchestrator, musical director and composer is best known for his work on Stephen Sondheim's musicals. Jonathan Tunik became an EGOT winner back in 1997, when he earned a Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for the play Titanic. Previously, he won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement ("No One Is Alone"), an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction (Night of 100 Stars) and an Academy Award for Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score (A Little Night Music).

In a past interview with Playbill for their series, How Did I Get Here, Tunick shared where his love for music came from. “As school children, we heard records such as Peter and the Wolf and Tubby the Tuba that showed me that musical instruments could portray characters and tell stories,” he said at the time. “This idea grew into an obsession that has dominated my life.”

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8. Mel Brooks

His career spans over seven decades, and he has dozens of writing, acting and production credits to his name. So, it comes as no surprise that Mel Brooks joined this exclusive list. He won four Emmy Awards: one for Best Writing in Variety for The Sid Caesar and three for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy for Mad About You. Brooks then snagged an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (The Producers) and three Grammys for Best Spoken Comedy Album (The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000), Best Long-Form Music Video (Recording the Producers—A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks) and Best Musical Show Album (The Producers). Finally, he reached EGOT status after winning his first Tony Award for Best Musical, Original Score and Book of a Musical for The Producers.

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9. Mike Nichols

After winning a Grammy for Best Comedy Performance (An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May) back in 1961, Mike Nichols shifted his focus to directing, and it certainly paid off. With a total of 15 wins to his name, he became the first person to snag multiple awards for directing. For instance, he earned an Oscar for Best Director for The Graduate and an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special for Wit (his first of four). Nichols also received nine Tonys for his work on titles like Death of a Salesman, Monty Python's Spamalot and The Real Thing.

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10. Whoopi Goldberg

Did you know that Whoopi Goldberg's first major win was a Grammy? The actress, comedian and TV personality won for Best Comedy Recording in 1985 before she went on to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Ghost. After this, the Sister Act star took home a Tony for producing the Best Musical (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and an Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Special (Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel), making her the first African American to ever join the EGOT ranks.

Back in 2021, The View host celebrated the 30th anniversary of her Oscar win. While sitting down with Variety, Goldberg watched a video that captured the moment she won an Academy Award for the Best Supporting Actress category for Ghost in 1991. 

The Color Purple actress recalled seeing her family in the crowd and feeling so much joy. The video also brought back more personal memories. “My brother, who’s no longer with us, that was great to see him and my daughter [Alex]. [I remember] just being happy to be there, get the speech out of the way and get off the stage,” she told the outlet.

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11. Scott Rudin

Scott Rudin proved that these prestigious awards aren’t just meant for actors and musicians. The producer managed to rake in a total of 21 awards, which include an Oscar for Best Picture (No Country for Old Men), an Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program (He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin') and a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album (The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording). Rudin also took home a whopping 18 Tony Awards for his production work on titles like Death of a Salesman, A Raisin in the Sun and The Humans.

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12. Robert Lopez

Robert Lopez ought to get a standing ovation, because he not only became the first Filipino and Asian to become an EGOT winner, but he’s also the youngest to receive these awards. Lopez officially reached EGOT status after winning his first Oscar for Best Original Song for Frozen's "Let It Go" in 2013. But before this, he won two Daytime Emmys for Wonder Pets!, a Grammy for The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording and three Tony Awards (one for his work on Avenue Q and two for The Book of Mormon).

After Lopez became a double EGOT winner in 2017, the brilliant composer opened up to the Sheet Music Direct blog and detailed how he usually approaches a project with his wife/songwriting partner, Kristen Anderson-Lopez. 

“We always go from story first. That never changes, no matter the medium,” Lopez shared. “And honestly, telling a compelling and fresh story is always the most difficult part to get right. It's a lot of constant collaboration between us and our various partners, who deserve a lot of the credit for whatever power our songs have.”

He continued, “In terms of different media—we really do love them all, but that doesn't make us experts on them. It is always fun to treat our projects as learning opportunities. No one knows everything—but it's fun to keep learning every day. As far as awards, that's always the last priority—but always a lot of fun to get dressed up and meet stars.”

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13. Andrew Lloyd Webber

Fun fact: Andrew Lloyd Webber shares quite a few of his wins with fellow EGOT winner, Tim Rice, since they worked together on Evita. The title earned them both a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award. But aside from Evita, Webber was also recognized for his work on Cats, which earned him a Grammy and two Tonys; The Phantom of the Opera, which earned him a Tony for Best Musical; Sunset Boulevard, which earned another two Tonys; and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, which won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live). In all, Webber currently has 11 major awards.

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14. Tim Rice

If you’re obsessed with classic Disney tunes like “Circle of Life” and "Hakuna Matata," then you can thank Tim Rice for his genius contributions. The lyricist, who’s known for his many collaborations with Webber, earned three Academy Awards for Best Original Song, including "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King and "A Whole New World" from Aladdin. He also has five Grammys, one Emmy for his work as a producer on Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert and two Tony Awards for Evita

In an exclusive interview with Songwriter Universe in June 2023, Rice shared how he started working for Disney. “I was approached by Disney, who at one point were interested in producing the film of Evita, which they ended up not doing,” he told the publication.

Rice continued, “I met one or two Disney executives at the time, and I dropped hints that I would like to write something for films, which I hadn’t really done before. I was a great fan of their animation, and their animation department was undergoing a renaissance thanks largely to Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (who had written the songs for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast). They eventually said to me, “We’ve got this idea for a film about a lion cub and his wicked uncle. They described it as ‘Hamlet with fur.’” And the rest is history…

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15. John Legend

The soulful singer and actor joined the EGOT club in 2018 when John Legend took home the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special for Jesus Christ Superstar. Not only was he one of the youngest people to earn the honor, but he also made history as the first African American man to reach EGOT status. Aside from his Emmy win, Legend has 12 (yes, 12) Grammy Awards, an Oscar for his Selma power anthem "Glory” and a Tony for Best Revival of a Play for Jitney

Back in 2021, Legend sat down with USA Today and shared what fuels his passion for making music. “I’ve won enough awards, so awards (don’t fuel me),” the father of four told the publication. “I’m just focused on trying to make the best music I can make and the best art I can make. I still feel like I have to prove myself every album and If I keep that approach, it will keep me hungry.”

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16. Alan Menken

He’s the genius behind some of the most popular songs and scores from Disney's Aladdin, Hercules, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and more—so we can totally see why Alan Menken made the list. The composer earned an impressive 11 Grammy Awards and eight Oscar wins. He also received a Tony for Best Original Score for Newsies, then completed his collection with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song in a Children's, Young Adult or Animated Program (Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure).

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17. Jennifer Hudson

The actress and singer actually made history as the first ever American idol alum to reach EGOT status. Most recently, Jennifer Hudson snagged a Tony Award for serving as a producer on Broadway's A Strange Loop. She also received a Daytime Emmy for serving as an executive producer on Baba Yaga (Outstanding Interactive Media for a Daytime Program), an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in Dreamgirls and two Grammy awards for her debut studio album (Best R&B Album) and The Color Purple (Best Musical Theater Album).

Before the Dreamgirls alum joined the EGOT club, Hudson spoke with People magazine back in 2020 and jokingly shared that her “good luck charms” aka her dogs would help her reach EGOT status. “I would get two more dogs,” she said.

“I got a dog and named it Oscar, and then I won my Oscar. And then I got a dog and named it Grammy, and then I won my Grammy. So, I think  I should get some dogs and name them Emmy and Tony—and it’ll give me good luck, and I’ll win. [They’re] like my good luck charms.” Well, Hudson may have been onto something because she took home a trophy as one of the producers of Best Musical for A Strange Loop at the 2022 Tony Awards, solidifying her EGOT status.

Viola Davis.
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18. Viola Davis

Viola Davis is the third black woman to ever achieve EGOT status, and she accomplished the feat at the 2023 Grammys, thanks to her win for Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording, for her memoir, Finding Me. Before her Grammy win, Davis received the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for How To Get Away With Murder, two Tony awards (Best Featured Actress in a Play for King Hedley II and Best Leading Actress in a Play for Fences on Broadway) and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Fences opposite Denzel Washington.

Before taking home her Grammy Award, Davis exclusively spoke with Entertainment Tonight and shared how grateful she was to be nominated. “I’m really emotional,” she tearfully admitted. “My life has come full circle. I wrote this book because I was trying to reconcile my life. I was trying to honor the young Viola, I wanted her to be excited about the 57-year-old she gets to become. And this, this is just the icing on the cake.”

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19. Elton John

Elton John sealed his EGOT fate at the 75th annual Emmy Awards when he won the statuette for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium. He previously won a Grammy for That’s What Friends Are For, an Oscar for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (Best Original Song) and a Tony Award for Aida

During the Emmy Awards, producer Ben Winston accepted the award on his behalf. “We knew this show would be historic because it was Elton’s last ever show in North America on tour, we knew it’d be historic because it was Disney’s first ever live stream, we didn’t know it was going to be historic because it was going to win a man, who has created the soundtrack to all of our lives, who has done so much great for society, who is all of our heroes, we didn’t know it was going to win him an EGOT,” Winston said.

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Who Is Close to EGOT Status?

As it turns out, more than 100 performers are just one competitive award away from reaching EGOT status. Here are just a few that come close:

  • Maggie Smith: The Downton Abbey alum currently has four Emmy Awards, two Academy Awards and a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
  • Al Pacino: Pacino scored an Oscar for Best Actor, two Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie and two Tonys, including Best Leading Actor in a Play and Best Featured Actor.
  • Helen Mirren: She has an Academy Award and two Golden Globes for Best Actress, as well as a Tony for Best Actress in a Play.
  • Liza Minnelli: She boasts an Oscar for Best Actress, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special and three Tonys—two for Best Leading Actress in a Musical and one for Best Special Theatrical Event.
  • Hugh Jackman: The actor and singer has a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Visual Media, an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program and a Tony for Best Actor in a Musical.
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda: The mastermind behind Hamilton currently boasts five Grammys, three Tony Awards and two Emmys. NBD.
  • Billy Porter: Among his many accolades are a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and two Tonys.
  • Cynthia Erivo: With her acting chops and stellar vocals, it comes as no surprise that she has an Emmy, a Grammy, a Tony and two Oscar nominations.
  • Kate Winslet: As of now, Winslet has an Oscar, two Emmy Awards and a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.
  • Common: The Chicago native rapper is a Tony away from achieving EGOT status.
  • Cher: Can you believe that legendary singer Cher has an Emmy, Grammy and Oscar but no Tony?!

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