Elton John became the latest EGOT, or simply, one of those extraordinary performers who has won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony—a one-of-a-kind achievement that only one Latino has ever obtained.
An EGOT represents a milestone in an artist's career, and only 19 people have achieved this in history.
This exclusive group encompasses artists of the caliber of Audrey Hepburn, John Legend, Viola Davis, and Andrew Lloyd Webber, just to name a few.
Elton John achieved EGOT status on Monday after winning an Emmy for the outstanding variety special category, honoring his show "Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium."
The legend's tour extended over several years, starting in September 2018 and experiencing a hiatus for nearly two years in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a hip injury that the musician sustained in 2021. He concluded the last leg in Stockholm, Sweden, in July.
In the history of this elite group of artists who have won it all, there is only one Latino name.
Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer Rita Moreno received her fourth distinct award in 1977, when she was 45 years old, becoming the first and (so far) only Latino EGOT.
Moreno, originally named Rosa Dolores Alverío, was born in Humacao to Rosa María, a seamstress, and Paco Alverío, a farmer. At the age of five, she relocated to New York City with her mother and adopted the surname of her stepfather, Edward Moreno.
Upon her arrival in the United States, she began her initial dance lessons, arranged by a friend of her mother, Paco Cansino, a Spanish dancer and the uncle of Rita Hayworth. By the age of eleven, Moreno lent her voice to Spanish-language versions of American films. Her career quickly soared, making her one of the last remaining stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
The Latino who seems closest to becoming the next EGOT is the songwriter, actor, singer, filmmaker, rapper, and librettist Lin-Manuel Miranda, who only lacks an Oscar to achieve it.
The versatile artist, creator of the Broadway musicals "In the Heights" and "Hamilton," has been nominated twice for the coveted Academy Award.
Miranda pursued an Oscar nomination for the song "How Far I'll Go" from the 2016 animated film "Moana." In 2021, the song "Dos Oruguitas" from the movie "Encanto" became the second entirely Spanish-language song to receive a nomination in the Best Original Song category at the Academy Awards.
Elton John and the Full List of EGOT Artists:
- Richard Rodgers, 1962
- Helen Hayes, 1977
- Rita Moreno, 1977
- John Gielgud, 1991
- Audrey Hepburn, 1994
- Marvin Hamlisch, 1995
- Jonathan Tunick, 1997
- Mel Brooks, 2001
- Mike Nichols, 2002
- Whoopi Goldberg, 2002
- Scott Rudin, 2012
- Robert Lopez, 2014
- Andrew Lloyd Webber, 2018
- Tim Rice, 2018
- John Legend, 2018
- Alan Menken, 2020
- Jennifer Hudson, 2022
- Viola Davis, 2023
- Elton John, 2024
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