Perhaps the greatest honor for any artist is getting the EGOT: winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. The last person to complete this momentous achievement was John Legend, who added the final award to his collection, an Emmy, in 2018. In doing so, Legend earned the accolades of youngest person and first African-American man. to have ever won the EGOT (by CNN). Anyone else who wins the entertainment grand slam will join the ranks of greats like Rita Moreno, Mel Brooks and Whoopi Goldberg.
Compared to the Grammys, which has 83 categories, and the Emmys, which include the Daytime, Creative Arts, and Primetime Emmys, the Oscar is one of EGOT’s toughest legs. Many artists are almost there, narrowly missing their Oscar.
Cyndi Lauper
Although the legendary musician was a household name for her many ’80s hits, Cyndi Lauper doesn’t have quite an impressive film resume. His most notable cinematic contribution, the soundtrack of The Gooniesfailed to secure an Oscar nomination.
Lauper’s accolades span his long career. In the 80s she won her first Grammy for Best New Artist, in the 90s she won an Emmy for starring in Crazy of youand in the 10s she won a Tony and a second Grammy for writing the music and lyrics for the musical adaptation of Naughty boots.
Hugh Jackman
For her performance in Tom Hooper’s film adaptation of Wretched, Hugh Jackman received his first – and currently only – Best Actor Oscar nomination. That year he lost to Daniel Day-Lewis in lincoln.
Although best known for his role as Wolverine, Jackman has won most of his accolades for his musical theater work: a Tony for Best Lead Actor in The boy from Ozan Emmy for hosting the 58th Tony Awards and a Grammy for the soundtrack of The greatest showman.
Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo received two Oscar nominations for the film Harriet: Best Actress for her role as Harriet Tubman and Best Original Song for co-writing the end credits of the movie “Stand Up.” She would lose to Renee Zellweger in Judy and “(I will) love myself again” from Rocketman.
Impressively, Erivo completed 3/4 of the EGOT with a draft. For his work in the 2015 Broadway revival of The purple colorshe won a Tony for Best Actress, a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, and a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program.
audra mcdonald
Broadway legend Audra McDonald has yet to be nominated for an Oscar. She could be in line later this year to play Ella Baker in the upcoming George C. Wolfe biopic, Rust.
McDonald is the only person to have won in all four acting categories and currently holds the record for most acting wins for Tony with six career wins. She also has an Emmy for hosting Live from Sweeny Todd of Lincoln Center and two Grammys for The rise and fall of the city of Mahagonny.
Lily Tomlin
In her decades in the industry, Lily Tomlin earned just one Oscar nomination in 1976 for Robert Altman’s film Nashville. She lost that year to Lee Grant in Shampoo.
Over the years, Hollywood legend Lily Tomlin has garnered seven Emmy Awards for her acting and voiceover work. She also won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album for This is a recording in 1972, a special Tony Award in 1977 and the Tony for best leading actress in a play for the one-woman show The search for signs of intelligent life in the universe in 1986.
Bette Midler
Bette Middler has garnered two Best Actress nominations in her career. In 1979, his work in The Rose lost to Sally Field in Norma Rae. Middler would be nominated again in 1991 for For the boys. She would lose this time to Jodie Foster in Thesilenceofthelambs.
Long after receiving a special Tony in 1974, Middler finally won a competitive Tony for best lead actress in a musical for the 2017 revival of Hello Dolly! She also won three Emmys for Variety Shows over the years and three Grammys, including Best New Artist in 1974 and Record of the Year in 1990 for “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Billy Porter
Billy Porter has yet to be nominated for an Oscar. Her only confirmed film role is the voice of Audrey II in the remake of Little Shop of Horrors.
For her work as drag queen Lola in the 2013 Broadway production Naughty boots, Billy Porter won the Tony for Best Lead Actor in a Musical and the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. Six years later, he would add an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series to his collection for his performance as emcee Pray Tell in the first season of Laid.
Ben Platt
Ben Platt’s adventures on the big screen have generally remained in the musical realm with Dear Evan Hansen and the Perfect franchise. It’s yet to be nominated for an Oscar, but one day may be in the conversation for Richard Linklater’s ambitious adaptation of We ride happily.
Platt is another Broadway veteran who raised 3/4 of the EGOT with a draft. After winning a Tony for his performance as the titular leader in Dear Evan HansenPlatt also received the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album and the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program.
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Twice Lin-Manuel Miranda was nominated for an Oscar, both times for Best Original Song. In 2017, “How Far I Will Go” by Moana lost at The Earth“Star City”. More recently, “Dos Oroguitas” by Encanto lost to Billie Eilish’s “No Time to Die”.
With its smashing tubes In the heights and hamilton, Miranda has collected three Tonys. Their two cast recordings were translated into a Grammy with a third Grammy for “How Far I’ll Go”. He also has two Emmy Awards, one for producing the hamilton stage recording and another for writing a song for the 67th Tony Awards.
Dick Van Dyke
Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke dazzled audiences in classics like Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. However, the cinematic legend never received an Oscar nomination.
Dick Van Dyke’s illustrious career includes accolades for some of pop culture’s most legendary works. So that the soundtrack Mary Poppinshe won the Grammy for Best Children’s Album and he won the Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for the original Broadway production of Goodbye Birdie. And of his five Emmys, three were for influential The Dick Van Dyke Show.
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