All of the Celebs Who've Earned an EGOT

Elton John most recently joined the list of stars who've achieved Hollywood's highest honor: winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony

Celebrities who are EGOTs
Jennifer Hudson, Audrey Hepburn and John Legend. Photo:

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty; Archive Photos/Getty; Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty

Stars who've won some of the biggest awards in the business are in a special league of their own.

But there's an even more special club in Hollywood: that of those who've earned an EGOT, or at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony in total.

The term was coined by Miami Vice actor Philip Michael Thomas, who first told it to the Associated Press in 1984 at the height of the NBC action show's success. "That stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony," he said. "Hopefully in the next five years I will win all those awards."

The first-ever EGOT was composer Richard Rodgers. He received his initial award in 1945 — an Oscar for his Best Original Song from State Fair, "It Might as Well Be Spring." It would take Rodgers 17 years to finally receive his fourth distinct award and EGOT status — an Emmy in 1962 for Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years' original music.

In the years since, a total of 25 stars have earned the prestigious title, with some scoring it via honorary awards and others picking up multiple in one category and just that magical solo nod in another.

Here, meet all the stars who've earned the prestigious EGOT through the years.

01 of 26

Elton John

Sir Elton John Performs live on stage during his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" Tour
Elton John.

Simone Joyner/Getty Images

Welcome to the club, Elton John! The icon won his first Emmy at the 2023 show (held in January 2024 following the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes) for outstanding live variety special for his Farewell from Dodger Stadium concert program. He already has two Oscars, one for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures for Rocketman and one for Best Music for The Lion King, a Tony for best original score for Aida and six Grammys, including the Grammy Legend Award.

02 of 26

Viola Davis

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Viola Davis accepts the Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling award for "Finding Me" onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Viola Davis. Frazer Harrison/Getty

Congrats, Viola Davis! The star picked up her missing piece — a Grammy — at the 2023 ceremony, after already winning an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Fences, an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for How to Get Away with Murder and Tonys for King Hedley II and the Broadway production of Fences.

03 of 26

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson attends the 75th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 12, 2022 in New York City.
Jennifer Hudson. Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Jennifer Hudson earned her EGOT with a 2022 Tony for A Strange Loop, which she co-produced. The actress already had an Oscar for best supporting actress in Dreamgirls, two Grammys for her eponymous 2009 R&B album and The Color Purple Broadway cast recording and a Daytime Emmy for her executive producer role on Baby Yaga.

04 of 26

Alan Menken

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Alan Menken. Rebecca Sapp/WireImage

With an impressive list of wins to his name — including two Oscars and three Grammys for 1991's Beauty and the BeastAlan Menken completed his EGOT status in 2012, earning a Tony for Newsies. The big title became a little more official recently, though; while he earned a special Emmy Award in 1990, he won an Emmy for outstanding original song in a children's, young adult or animated program for Tangled: The Series at the 2020 Daytime Emmy Awards.

05 of 26

John Legend

NBC's "Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert" FYC Event
John Legend. Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

John Legend cemented his status in 2018 at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards for producing Jesus Christ Superstar Live. The then-39-year-old already had a whopping 10 Grammy Awards to his name and took home an Oscar in 2015 for his song "Glory" featured in Selma. The singer also won a Tony in 2017 for his role as a co-producer for the production of Jitney.

In an Instagram post honoring his fellow winners (and fellow newly minted EGOTs) Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, he wrote, "So happy to be part of this team. So honored they trusted me to play Jesus Christ. So amazed to be in such rarefied air. #EGOT"

And as if he weren't decorated enough, the star - who also won the 2019 season of The Voicewas crowned PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive in 2019, leading Blake Shelton to deliver him a pair of bedazzled booty shorts reading "VEGOTSMA."

06 of 26

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber

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Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty

Broadway legend Andrew Lloyd Webber won an Oscar in 1996 for Evita, plus multiple Grammys and Tonys. His EGOT came alongside legend in 2018 at the Creative Arts Emmys, for his production work on Jesus Christ Superstar Live. The Brit said he was "honored" to win the Emmy for this work.

07 of 26

Tim Rice

2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards - Day 2 - Arrivals
Tim Rice. JC Olivera/WireImage

Longtime Webber collaborator Tim Rice also picked up his Emmy and subsequent EGOT in September 2018 for Jesus Christ Superstar Live. Just like his colleague, he won an Oscar in 1996 for Evita, plus multiple Grammys and Tonys.

08 of 26

Whoopi Goldberg

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Whoopi Goldberg. Dave Kotinsky/Getty

In 2002, Whoopi Goldberg achieved EGOT status — winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony over the course of her career — cementing her new title when she won a Tony for Thoroughly Modern Millie. She also took home a Daytime Emmy that same year.

09 of 26

Audrey Hepburn

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Audrey Hepburn. Archive Photos/Getty

It took 41 years for the legendary actress to reach EGOT status. Audrey Hepburn officially joined Hollywood heavyweights with the same honor in 1994, when she won the Grammy for best spoken word album for children for Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales.

10 of 26

Mike Nichols

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Mike Nichols. Kevin Winter/Getty

Lauded director Mike Nichols earned the coveted title in 2001 when he scored a whopping two Emmys for his TV movie, Wit.

11 of 26

Richard Rodgers

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Richard Rodgers. Ted West/Getty

Composer Richard Rodgers became the first-ever EGOT winner in 1962, when his musical drama, No Strings, scooped up a Tony, Grammy and Emmy. (He previously won a Best Original Song Oscar in 1945.)

12 of 26

Marvin Hamlisch

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Marvin Hamlisch. Donna Ward/FilmMagic

It took Marvin Hamlisch 23 years to reach EGOT status. The composer achieved the honor after receiving two Emmys for Barbra: The Concert.

13 of 26

Helen Hayes

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Helen Hayes. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Helen Hayes became the first woman to earn the honor in 1977, earning the title after her Grammy win for best spoken word recording for Great American Documents.

14 of 26

Liza Minnelli

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Liza Minnelli. Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Reaching EGOT status in 1990, Liza Minnelli cemented her place in Hollywood's cool kids club with a Grammy Legend Award.

15 of 26

Scott Rudin

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Scott Rudin. Steve Granitz/WireImage

Tied with Mike Nichols for being an EGOT-holder with the most awards (14) in the four categories, producer Scott Rudin received his fourth distinction in 2012 — earning a Grammy for best musical theater album for The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording. In 2021, several former staffers came forward accusing Rudin of abusive behavior; he stepped back from ongoing entertainment projects as a result.

16 of 26

Harry Belafonte

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Harry Belafonte. Noam Galai/WireImage

Actor and singer Harry Belafonte received his fourth award, an honorary Oscar, in 2014. He received a total of six awards in the four categories over the course of his career.

17 of 26

Robert Lopez

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Robert Lopez. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Not only is Robert Lopez the youngest EGOT recipient, but the songwriter is also the fastest to complete Hollywood's highest honor. Lopez earned his fourth distinction in 2014 when he won an Oscar for Frozen's "Let It Go."

18 of 26

Jonathan Tunick

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Jonathan Tunick. Gary Gershoff/Getty

Composer and conductor Jonathan Tunick completed his grand slam in 1997, earning his first-ever Tony for best orchestrations for Titanic.

19 of 26

James Earl Jones

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James Earl Jones. Walter McBride/WireImage

Having swept the three other EGOT categories, James Earl Jones was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2011.

20 of 26

Barbra Streisand

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Barbra Streisand. Kevin Mazur/Getty

In 1970, Barbra Streisand took home her fourth award, an honorary Tony.

21 of 26

John Gielgud

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John Gielgud. Tim Roney/Getty

Having received six awards in the four categories over the course of his career, John Gielgud actor officially earned EGOT status in 1991 for his performance in Summer's Lease.

22 of 26

Rita Moreno

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Rita Moreno. Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

Rita Moreno is the second-fastest (after Robert Lopez) to complete an EGOT sweep and the first-ever Latino star to earn the honor. It took the actress 16 years to earn the title, scooping up an Emmy in 1977 for her performance in The Muppet Show.

23 of 26

Mel Brooks

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Mel Brooks. Samir Hussein/WireImage

Mel Brooks became an EGOT recipient 34 years into his career, winning the honor after he scooped up three Tonys in 2001 for The Producers.

24 of 26

Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones. Mat Hayward/Getty

Quincy Jones won his first of nearly 30 Grammys in 1964, with an Emmy win in 1977, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 1994 Oscars and a 2016 Tony Award that sealed his status.

25 of 26

Frank Marshall

Producer Frank Marshall attends the "Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny" UK Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on June 26, 2023 in London, England.
Frank Marshall.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Director and producer Frank Marshall is another recent addition to the club, and he joined fast: he picked up his Oscar in 2019 (the honorary Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award), a Tony in 2022 for producing A Strange Loop, a Grammy in 2023 for directing and producing the best music film winner Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story and a Sports Emmy in 2023 for the outstanding long documentary The Redeem Team.

26 of 26

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul attend the "Dear Evan Hansen" opening night at the Noel Coward Theatre

Jeff Spicer/Getty

The composer duo responsible for the music in Dear Evan Hansen and La La Land earned their full EGOT in the Creative Arts Emmys in Sept. 2024, when they took home the prize for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics category for the song "Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” from Only Murders in the Building (co-written with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

They had several Tonys (for Dear Evan Hansen and producing A Strange Loop), Grammys (the cast recording for Dear Evan Hansen) and an Oscar for La La Land's "City of Stars" when they completed their EGOT with the catchy OMITB tune.

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