John Legend Makes History With EGOT Win
John Legend's real name is John Roger Stephens. He was born on December 28, 1978. The singer, songwriter, and actor is one of the youngest recipients of EGOT. He is the only African American male to receive the honor.
He was also nominated and won for his role as a producer of the show, making him one of only 15 people to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
Before September 9, 2018, there were only 12 members of EGOT on the list from 1962 up to 2014. More recipients were added at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles when singer and actor John Legend won an Emmy along with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice for producing Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.
Sunday's winners are the first ones to be added to the list in four years. Usually, a person is honored one at a time. It was unusual for three to be added to the list at the same time.
Legend is not the only African American to be in that small club because Whoopi Goldberg has on the list since 2002 for her achievements in all four of the areas of entertainment.
The Four Awards
An Emmy is an award given to those who have excelled in the television industry.
A Grammy is given for outstanding achievements in music. It is not surprising that Legend has received more Grammys than other awards.
The Oscar is the oldest of the entertainment awards also known as an Academy Award. It is given to those who have excelled in the film industry.
A Tony is given to people who have excelled in live Broadway plays.
John Legend's EGOT
In order for him to become a member of the EGOT, Legend won the following awards.
- Emmy: 2018 for acting in and producing the television musical Jesus Christ Superstar
- Grammys: 10 wins from 2006 to 2016
- Oscar: 2015 for the song Glory with Common
- Tony: 2017 win for co-producing play Jitney
In all, Legend has received 45 nominations and has won 33 awards. They include BET Awards, Golden Globe and other awards for his songs and acting.
Chrissy Teigen, John's wife of five years, is very supportive of her husband and father of their two children, 2-year-old Luna and 10-month-old Miles. Chrissy posted a photo of her kissing John after his big win. Then she posted a video on him putting his latest trophy on a shelf among his many others.
15 Celebrities with EGOT Status
Fifteen people have won all four major entertainment awards. Even though he is not on the list, Philip Michael Thomas, who starred on the hit show Miami Vice, coined the acronym in 1984. He indicated that it also means "energy, growth, opportunity, and talent."
- Richard Rodgers, composer
- Helen Hayes, actress
- Rita Moreno, actress, singer
- John Gielgud, actor, director
- Audrey Hepburn, actress
- Marvin Hamlisch, composer
- Jonathan Tunick, composer, conductor
- Mel Brooks, writer, composer, actor
- Mike Nichols, director, comedian
- Whoopi Goldberg, comedian, actress, host
- Scott Rudin, producer
- Robert Lopez, composer
- John Legend, singer, composer, producer
- Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer, producer
- Tim Rice, lyricist, producer
Richard Rodgers and Marvin Hamlisch are PEGOT winners. That means they have won all four EGOT awards along with a Pulitzer Prize.
There are 85 celebrities with three of the prestigious awards. Most of them are waiting for an Oscar. Fewer of them are waiting for an Emmy.
- 10 celebrities are missing an Emmy
- 22 are missing a Tony
- 26 missing a Grammy
- 27 missing an Oscar
Six Others Who Won Four Awards But Not EGOT
If you thought a celebrity is not on the list for EGOT after winning four of the major entertainment awards, you are probably right. There are six well-known celebrities who have won. However, they won only in the non-competitive or special areas that did not count toward EGOT.
- Actress Barbra Streisand
- Singer Liza Minnelli
- Actor James Earl Jones
- Actor Alan Menken
- Singer and Actor Harry Belafonte
- Musician Quincy Jones
