What does EGOT mean as Elton John up for an Emmy? List of EGOT winners

The Emmy Awards, which celebrates the television industry, published its list of nominees on Wednesday morning.

Succession had the most to celebrate with 27 nominations, The Last of Us received 24, The White Lotus 23 and Ted Lasso 21.

Elton John received his first Emmy nomination for his Disney+ variety programme Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium and if he wins he is on his way to be a potential EGOT.

So, what exactly is EGOT and how many people in showbusiness have managed to attain it? Here’s what we know.

What is EGOT?

EGOT is an acronym that stands for the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

Those who win all four of these major American entertainment awards have proven their talent and success across television, recording, film and Broadway theatre respectively.

Viola Davis is the latest person to join the elite group, apart from her, there are only 18 people who have achieved the EGOT.

Davis started her EGOT hunt by collecting a Tony for her theatre performance in King Hedley II in 2001.

The actress added an Emmy to her list of accomplishments in 2015 following her success in the TV drama How to Get Away With Murder.

She won the best supporting actress Oscar in 2016 for Fences, which meant she only had to win a Grammy to complete the set.

Earlier this year, Davis won the best audiobook Grammy for her autobiography Finding Me and became an EGOT holder.

Could Elton John get an EGOT?

Elton John is an Emmy shy of gaining the acclaimed status, and he has another chance at it now.

John has been nominated for an Emmy for his Disney+ show Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium for the best variety special (live) category.

He has been working at becoming an EGOT for a while. With That's What Friends Are For he received his first of five Grammy Awards. In 1994, he received his first Oscar for best original song for Can You Feel the Love Tonight. He won the Tony Award in 2000 for his Aida score.

John would be the 19th person to receive the EGOT if he were to triumph.

Who else has an EGOT?

Here is a list of all the showbusiness stars who have an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, and the date they achieved all four.

• Mel Brooks (comedian and director) – 2001

• Viola Davis (actress and producer) – 2023

• John Gielgud (actor and director) – 1991

• Whoopi Goldberg (actress, comedian and host) – 2002

• Marvin Hamlisch (composer) – 1995

• Helen Hayes (actress) – 1977

• Audrey Hepburn (actress) – 1994

• Jennifer Hudson (actress, producer and singer) – 2022

• John Legend (composer, producer and singer) – 2018

• Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer and producer) – 2018

• Robert Lopez (composer) – 2014

• Alan Menken (composer and producer) – 2020

• Rita Moreno (actress and singer) – 1977

• Tim Rice (librettist, lyricist and producer) – 2018

• Richard Rodgers (composer and producer) – 1962

• Scott Rudin (producer) – 2012

• Jonathan Tunick (arranger, composer, conductor and orchestrator) – 1997

In addition Harry Belafonte, James Earl Jones, Quincy Jones, Liza Minnelli and Barbra Streisand are EGOT holders but some of their awards were honorary or otherwise non-competitive.

Are there any other versions of the EGOT?

A number of creatives have been referred to as PEGOT holders but there are conflicting definitions of what the “P” stands for.

Some believe it stands for the Peabody Award, an award given to those who have used their creative skills to serve the public through powerful and invigorating storytelling or news coverage.

By that definition, Mike Nichols and Rita Moreno have a PEGOT.

However, some believe the “P” stands for a Pulitzer, the award given to writers and journalists. By that definition, Richard Rodgers and Marvin Hamlisch have achieved a PEGOT.