Top 10 EGOT Winners of All Time
#10: Jennifer Hudson
This powerhouse performer became the 17th EGOT winner when “A Strange Loop,” which she co-produced, won the Tony for Best Musical. Her journey began with a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Dreamgirls” at the 79th Awards. She then snagged two Grammys— one for Best R&B Album and the other for “The Color Purple” soundtrack. And she earned a Daytime Emmy for the animated short “Baba Yaga.” Amusingly, it seems that Hudson might’ve manifested these wins. She jokingly shared that she got a pooch and named it Oscar before then winning one. She later replicated her success with a dog called Grammy. No word if Emmy and Tony joined her Pomeranian pups before her momentous win. But perhaps they were fetching her luck from afar.
#9: Whoopi Goldberg
In 2002, this acclaimed showbiz legend made history as the first Black woman to join the esteemed EGOT club. Goldberg made waves in "The Color Purple," for which she received an Oscar nomination (but not a win). However, her first trophy on the path to EGOT status was a Grammy for Best Comedy Album in 1986. She followed this with a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her 1990 movie "Ghost." 2002 saw the actress get a Daytime Emmy for "Beyond Tara," and she added a second one in 2009 for her hosting prowess on "The View." 2002 was also the year she won her Tony when "Thoroughly Modern Millie" was awarded Best Musical. You might say it was a "thoroughly" good year for this Hollywood icon.
#8: Richard Rodgers
Although the term "EGOT" would officially be coined later, Rodgers was the very first member of this exclusive group. He started with a Best Song Oscar in 1946 for "It Might as Well Be Spring" from "State Fair." In addition, he amassed six Tony Awards between 1950 and 1962 for "South Pacific," "The King and I," "The Sound of Music," and "No Strings." His work on the latter two also earned him Grammys. Then, in 1962 he won an Emmy for his composition on "Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years." As if that wasn’t impressive enough, he got three special Tony Awards over the years, in 1962, 1972, and 1979. And did we mention he won a 1950 Pulitzer Prize? That’s one impressive resume.
#7: Marvin Hamlisch
If you’re a fan of “A Chorus Line,” “The Way We Were,” or Barbra Streisand in general, you have Marvin Hamlisch to thank. You’d think he’d have received a slew of Tony Awards with so many acclaimed titles under his belt. But he had just one for “A Chorus Line.” He did however receive four Grammys — all during the show’s 17th edition — four Emmys, and three Oscars at the ceremony held in 1974. In addition, “A Chorus Line” is part of a relatively small group of musicals who have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This made Hamlisch a member of the even more exclusive PEGOT group. As of 2022, he’s the only person other than Richard Rodgers to have achieved this with a Pulitzer.
#6: John Legend
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John Legend has a slew of Grammys. But it was his 2018 Primetime Emmy for “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” that pushed him into the EGOT circle. So what about the other awards? In 2015, he earned the Best Original Song Oscar for “Glory” from the movie “Selma.” And in 2017, he won a Tony for Best Revival of a Play for “Jitney.” Legend is among the youngest EGOT recipients, and was the first Black man to join the group’s ranks. To top it all off, he also holds a Daytime Emmy. He became the joint 13th EGOT awardee, but more on the others later. You know what they say about the number 13. Apparently it’s lucky if you’re John Legend.
#5: Audrey Hepburn
Hepburn made a splash on the scene when she won her Best Actress Oscar for “Roman Holiday” in 1954. Her breathtaking performance also earned her a Golden Globe and BAFTA. In addition, she won a Tony Award that year for Best Actress in a Play for her role in “Ondine.” Hepburn would go on to mesmerize audiences with iconic work in “Funny Face,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “My Fair Lady,” and countless others. In 1993, following her passing, she won a Primetime Emmy for “Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn.” She earned EGOT status in 1994, when she earned the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. She became the fifth recipient overall, but the first to join this elite circle posthumously.
#4: Mel Brooks
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Mel Brooks is a household name and a comedy legend. He became the eighth person initiated into the EGOT club in 2001 thanks to his three Tony wins for his record-breaking musical “The Producers.” But his road there began in the ‘60s. He earned his first of many Primetime Emmys for “The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special.” He then got a Best Writing Oscar for “The Producers” movie. He also picked up a combined three Grammys over the years. The icon joked that since he’s achieved EGOT prestige, he doesn’t need any more awards. He hilariously added, “The only award I haven’t received, I think, is Woman of the Year.” Hey, you never know!
#3: Alan Menken
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This songwriter and composer is the mastermind behind many of your favorite Disney tunes and several fan-favorite Broadway shows. But believe it or not, he only joined the EGOT crowd in 2020 after winning a Daytime Emmy for the song “Waiting in the Wings” from “Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure.” Indeed, he would know a thing or two about waiting in the wings, having accumulated eight Academy Awards, eleven Grammys, and a Tony before receiving this prestigious honor. The artist told Variety that the excitement he felt when he was awarded a place in this exclusive club shocked him. Menken is the 16th EGOT recipient, and we’re thrilled that he’s finally been recognized as “Part of [That] World.”
#2: Rita Moreno
In 1977, Moreno became the first Latina and third person overall to achieve the coveted EGOT. She kicked things off in 1962 by winning the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Anita in “West Side Story.” She followed up with a Best Recording for Children Grammy in 1973, and a Tony Award for Best Featured or Supporting Actress in 1975. Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, Moreno also frequented the TV guest star circuit, making several notable appearances. Indeed, it was a trip to “The Muppet Show” that earned her her first Primetime Emmy and a well-deserved place among the showbiz elite. In 2019, she won a Peabody Award, joining the PEGOT club and cementing her place as a legend.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Helen Hayes
In 1977, She Became the First Woman to Achieve EGOT Status
John Gielgud
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Jonathan Tunick
Tunick Joined This Prestigious Circle in 1997
Mike Nichols
Nichols Was the Ninth Person to Join the Crew When He Earned a Primetime Emmy in 2001
Robert Lopez
He Didn’t Just Achieve the EGOT Once, But Twice Instead
#1: Andrew Lloyd Webber
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Remember when we said that John Legend was the joint 13th EGOT awardee? Well, he shared that honor with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber following their 2018 Primetime Emmy win for “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.” With titles like “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats,” and “Sunset Boulevard” under his belt, it seemed inevitable that at some point, Webber would be inducted. After all, he’s won several Tonys and Grammys for his masterpieces, plus an Oscar for “You Must Love Me” from the film adaptation of “Evita.” Lord Lloyd-Webber has also received the Grammy Legend and Special Tony awards. Given his iconic and timeless catalog, it’s only fitting that this composer should sit in such esteemed company.
