What does EGOT mean?
EGOT stands for winning all four major American entertainment awards: an Emmy for TV, a Grammy for music, an Oscar for film and a Tony for theater.
Winning all four is extremely rare, because it requires success in very different fields. Composers, songwriters and performers who work across television, recordings, movies and Broadway have the best chance. Only about two dozen people have completed a competitive EGOT.
Composer Richard Rodgers, known for Broadway musicals such as The Sound of Music, became the first EGOT winner in 1962. Others include Audrey Hepburn, Mel Brooks, Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson and Elton John, who completed his set with an Emmy in January 2024.
Where the term came from
The word EGOT became popular after actor Philip Michael Thomas of Miami Vice said in the 1980s that he hoped to win all four awards. The TV comedy 30 Rock later made it a running joke. Some lists also include people who completed the set with honorary or special awards rather than competitive ones, so totals can differ slightly.
Did You Know?
A few people have won a PEGOT, adding a Peabody Award to the four others. Barbra Streisand and Rita Moreno are among the rare winners.