Jennifer Hudson Is Now the Second Black Woman to Achieve EGOT Status

Jennifer Hudson becomes the recipient of the coveted EGOT status, the LA Times reports. 

The EGOT status is one of entertainment’s most illustrious honors, defined as a person who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award, the big four of the industry. In all of history, only 16 people have reached such status. At the most recent Tony Awards, singer and actress Jennifer Hudson became the 17th. 

Hudson has now made history as the second Black woman to reach EGOT status, the first being Whoopi Goldberg, and the third Black person, Goldberg and John Legend securing the top two spots. She is also only the fifth woman in history to achieve the honor, following Helen Hayes, Rita Moreno, Audrey Hepburn, and Goldberg. 

Hudson's contributions

The Tony Award was given to Hudson for her work as a producer of “A Strange Loop,” which won best musical. The stage play follows the inner monologue of a 26-year-old Black, queer artist who works on Broadway as an usher and strives to turn his humdrum life into art. The musical, from creator Michael R. Jackson, was nominated for a whopping 11 Tony Awards, winning for the book of the same name and the musical. 

Barbara Whitman served as lead producer alongside Hudson, Mindy Kaling, RuPaul Charles, Don Cheadle, Billy Porter, Ilana Glazer, and Alan Cumming. Hudson won an Oscar in 2007 for her work in Dreamgirls, going on to win a Grammy in 2009 and then again in 2017 for her debut album and the Broadway cast recording of The Color Purple. In 2021, she won a Daytime Emmy for her work as executive producer of the animated film Baba Yaga. 

Hudson's recent Tony Award win also makes her the youngest woman to achieve EGOT status. Congratulations, Jennifer!