Will Cynthia Erivo Become an EGOT Winner at the Oscars?

From Oprah Magazine

• The 2020 Oscars will take place on Sunday, February 9 at 8 p.m. ET.

• Films like Joker, The Irishman, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood, and Little Women swept the nominations, though buzzy movies like Jennifer Lopez's Hustlers were snubbed.

• EGOT winners have earned an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. And with her Best Actress nomination for Harriet, Cynthia Erivo has gotten one step closer to achieving that feat.

You’ve got to be a gem to achieve EGOT status in Hollywood.

The often-tossed-around acronym is used to describe entertainment artists who’ve earned at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. So far, the elite group consists of icons like Audrey Hepburn and Rita Moreno, along with contemporary celebrities such as John Legend and Whoopi Goldberg.

Recently, EGOT chatter has been swirling with the 2020 Oscars less than a week away. Why? Well, Cynthia Erivo could win big after scoring a Best Actress nomination for Harriet and the Best Original Song nomination for "Stand Up," which she co-wrote. If she wins, she'll be the 16th EGOT winner. So far, the star has racked up a 2016 Best Actress Tony for her performance as Celie Harris in The Color Purple; a 2017 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for The Color Purple; and a Daytime Emmy for her Color Purple performance on Today.

At the 2019 Emmys, Pose actor Billy Porter got one step closer to achieving EGOT status with his win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He's previously won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and a Grammy for the cast album of Kinky Boots. During his Emmys speech, he quoted a 1960 essay—"They Can't Turn Back"—by James Baldwin, and encouraged people to be themselves.

"We are the people," he said. "We as artists are the people that get to change the molecular structure of the hearts and minds of the people who live on this planet. Please don't ever stop doing that. Please don't ever stop telling the truth."

If you’re curious what the existing mix of EGOT winners looks like, scroll to see the full list, which includes both competitive and honorary awards.

Audrey Hepburn

• Emmy: Outstanding Individual Achievement—Informational Programming, Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn, 1993

• Grammy: Best Spoken Word Album for Children, Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales, 1994

• Oscar: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Roman Holiday, 1954

• Tony: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, Ondine, 1954

Whoopi Goldberg

• Emmys: Outstanding Talk Show Host, The View, 2009; Outstanding Class Special, Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel, 2002

• Grammy: Best Comedy Recording, Whoopi Goldberg Original Broadway Show Recording, 1986

• Oscar: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Ghost, 1991

• Tony: Best Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, 2002

Rita Moreno

• Emmys: Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series, The Rockford Files, 1978; Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music, The Muppet Show, 1977

• Grammy: Best Album for Children, The Electric Company, 1972

• Oscar: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, West Side Story, 1962

• Tony: Best Featured Actress in a Play, The Ritz, 1975

Barbra Streisand

• Emmys: Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program, Barbra Streisand: Timeless, 2001; Outstanding Variety Music or Comedy Special, Barbra Streisand The Concert, 1995; Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program, Barbra Streisand The Concert, 1995; Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment Actors and Performers, My Name Is Barbra, 1965

• Grammys: Album of the Year, Best Female Vocal Performance, The Barbra Streisand Album, 1963; Best Female Vocal Performance, People, 1964; Best Female Vocal Performance, My Name Is Barbra, 1965; Best Pop Female Vocal Performance, “Evergreen,” 1977; Song of the Year, “Evergreen,” 1977; Best Pop Vocal Performance—Duo, Group or Chorus, “Guilty,” 1979; Best Pop Vocal Female Performance, The Broadway Album, 1986

• Oscars: Best Actress, Funny Girl, 1969; Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical), Funny Girl, 1969; Best Original Song, “Evergreen,” 1977; Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical), A Star Is Born

• Tonys: Star of the Decade, 1970

John Legend

• Emmy: Outstanding Variety Special, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, 2018

• Grammys: Best Song Written for Visual Media, “Glory,” 2015; Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, “Hang On in There,” 2010; Best R&B Song, “Shine,” 2010; Best R&B Album, Wake Up!, 2010; Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, “Stay With Me (By the Sea),” 2008; Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, “Heaven,” 2006; Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, “Family Affair,” 2006; Best New Artist, 2006; Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, “Ordinary People,” 2005; Best R&B Album, Get Lifted, 2006

• Oscar: Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song, Selma, “Glory,” 2015

• Tony: Best Revival of a Play, Jitney, 2017

James Earl Jones

• Emmys: Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries, Heat Wave, 1990; Leading Actor in a Drama Series, Gabriel’s Fire, 1990

• Grammy: Best Spoken Word, Great American Documents, 1977

• Oscar: Honorary Award, 2011

• Tonys: Best Actor in a Play, The Great White Hope, 1969; Best Actor in a Play, Fences, 1987

Liza Minnelli

• Emmy: Outstanding Single Program—Variety and Popular Music, Liza with a Z: A Concert for Television, 1973

• Grammy: Grammy Legend Award, 1990

• Oscar: Best Actress, Cabaret, 1973

• Tony: Best Leading Actress in a Musical, Flora the Red Menace, 1965; Best Leading Actress in a Musical, The Act, 1978; Best Special Theatrical Event, Liza’s at the Palace…!, 2009; Special Tony Award, Liza at the Winter Garden, 1974

Mel Brooks

• Emmys: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, Mad About You, 1997, 1998, and 1999; Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety, The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special, 1967

• Grammys: Best Long Form Music Video, Great Performances: “Recording The Producers: A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks,” 2002; Best Spoken Comedy Album, The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000, 1999

• Oscar: Best Writing, Story, and Screenplay—Written Directly for the Screen, The Producers, 1969

• Tonys: Best Book of a Musical, The Producers, 2001; Best Original Score, The Producers, 2001, Best Musical, The Producers, 2001

Richard Rodgers

• Emmy: Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composed for TV, Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years, 1962

• Grammys: Best Show Album, No Strings, 1962; Best Show Album, The Sound of Music, 1960

• Oscar: Best Music, Original Song, State Fair, 1946

• Tonys: Best Original Score, No Strings, 1961; Best Musical, The Sound of Music, 1960; Best Musical, The King and I, 1952; Best Musical, South Pacific, 1950, Best Score, South Pacific, 1950

Helen Hayes

• Emmy: Best Actress, 1953

• Grammy: Best Spoken Word Album, Great American Documents, 1977

• Oscars: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, 1971, Airport; Best Actress, The Sin of Madelon Claudet, 1932

• Tonys: Best Actress, Dramatic, Time Remembered, 1958; Best Actress, Dramatic, Happy Birthday, 1947

Sir John Gielgud

• Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special, Summer’s Lease, 1991

• Grammy: Best Spoken Word Album, Ages of Man, 1980

• Oscar: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Arthur, 1982

• Tony: Best Director of a Drama, Big Fish, Little Fish, 1961

Marvin Hamlisch

• Emmys: Outstanding Music Direction, Timeless: Live in Concert, 2001; Outstanding Music and Lyrics, AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies: America’s Greatest Movies, 1999; Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics, Barbra: The Concert, 1995

• Grammy: Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture, The Way We Were, 1975

• Oscars: Best Original Song, The Way We Were, 1974; Best Original Song Score or Adaptation Score, The Sting, 1974; Best Original Dramatic Score, The Way We Were, 1974

• Tony: Best Original Score, A Chorus Line, 1976

Jonathan Tunick

• Emmy: Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction, Night of 100 Stars, 1982

• Grammy: Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals, “No One Is Alone,” 1989

• Oscars: Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score, A Little Night Music, 1978

• Tony: Best Orchestrations, Titanic, 1997

Mike Nichols

• Emmys: Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special, Angels in America, 2004; Outstanding Miniseries, Angels in America, 2004; Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, Wit, 2001; Outstanding Made for TV Movie, Wit, 2001

• Grammy: Best Comedy Performance, An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May, 1962

• Oscar: Best Director, The Graduate, 1968

• Tonys: Best Direction of a Play, Death of a Salesman, 2012; Best Direction of a Musical, Monty Python’s Spamalot, 2005; Best Direction of a Play, The Real Thing, 1984; Best Direction of a Play, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, 1972; Best Direction of a Play, Plaza Suite, 1968; Best Direction of a Play, Luv and The Odd Couple, 1965; Best Direction of a Play, Barefoot in the Park, 1964

Scott Rudin

• Emmy: Outstanding Children’s Program, He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin’, 1984

• Grammy: Best Musical Theater Album, The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording, 2012

• Oscar: Best Motion Picture of the Year, No Country for Old Men, 2008

• Tonys: Best Play, Passion, 1994; Best Revival of a Play, A View from the Bridge, 2016; Best Play, The Humans, 2016; Best Revival of a Play, Skylight, 2015; Best Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, 2015; Best Revival of a Play, Death of a Salesman, 2012; Best Musical, The Book of Mormon, 2011; Best Revival of a Play, Fences; 2010; Best Play, God of Carnage, 2009; Best Play, The History Boys, 2006; Best Play, Doubt, 2005; Best Play, Copenhagen, 2000

Robert Lopez

• Emmys: Outstanding Music Direction and Composition, Wonder Pets!, 2010; Outstanding Music Direction and Composition, Wonder Pets!, 2008

• Grammys: Best Song Written for Visual Media, Frozen, 2015; Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, Frozen, 2015; Best Musical Theater Album, The Book of Mormon, Original Broadway Cast Recording, 2012

• Oscar: Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song, Frozen, 2014

• Tonys: Best Book of a Musical, The Book of Mormon, 2011; Best Original Score, The Book of Mormon, 2011; Best Original Score, Avenue Q, 2004

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber

• Emmy: Outstanding Variety Special, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, 2018

• Grammys: Best Cast Show Album, Evita, 1980; Best Cast Show Album, Cats, 1983; Best Contemporary Composition, Requiem, 1986; Grammy Legend Awards, 1990

• Oscars: Best Original Song, “You Must Love Me,” Evita, 1996

• Tonys: Best Original Score, Evita, 1980; Best Musical, Cats, 1983; Best Original Score, Cats, 1983; Best Musical, The Phantom of the Opera, 1988; Best Musical, Sunset Boulevard, 1995; Best Original Score, Sunset Boulevard, 1995; Lifetime Achievement in Theater, 2018

Tim Rice

• Emmy: Outstanding Variety Special, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, 2018

• Grammys: Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for TV, Aladdin, 1994; Song of the Year, Aladdin, 1994; Best Musical Album for Children, Aladdin, 1994

• Oscars: Best Music, Original Score, Evita, 1997; Best Music, Original Score, The Lion King, 1995; Best Music, Original Song, Aladdin, 1993

• Tonys: Original Score, Aida, 2000; Original Score, Evita, 1980; Book of a Musical, Evita, 1980

Harry Belafonte

• Emmy: Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program, Tonight with Belafonte, 1960

• Grammys: Lifetime Achievement Award, 2000; President’s Merit Award, 1986; Best Folk Recording, An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba, 1965; Best Performance — Folk, Swing Dat Hammer, 1960

• Oscars: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, 2015

• Tony: Best Featured Actor in a Musical, John Murray Anderson’s Almanac, 1954

Alan Menken

• Emmys: Outstanding Contribution to the Success of the Academy’s Anti-Drug Special for Children, “Wonderful Ways to Say No,” 1990

• Grammys: Best Song Written for Visual Media, “I See the Light” from Tangled, 2012; Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or TV, “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas, 1996; Best Song Witten for a Motion Picture or TV, “A Whole New World,” 1994; Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for TV, Aladdin; Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1994; Best Musical Album for Children, Aladdin; Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1994; Song of the Year, “A Whole New World,” 1994; Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or TV, “Beauty and the Beast,” 1993; Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture of TV, Beauty and the Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1993; Best Musical Album for Children, Beauty and the Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1993; Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or TV, “Under the Sea,” 1991; Best Recording for Children, The Little Mermaid: Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack, 1991

• Oscars: Best Original Score, The Little Mermaid, 1989; Best Original Song, “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid, 1989; Best Original Score, Beauty and the Beast, 1991; Best Original Song, “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast, 1991; Best Original Score, Aladdin, 1992; Best Original Song, “A Whole New World” from Aladdin, 1992; Best Original Musical or Comedy Score, Pocahontas, 1995; Best Original Song, “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas, 1995

• Tony: Best Original Score, Newsies, 2012

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