If you’ve been following the Oscars news leading up to tonight’s 89th Academy Awards, you may have heard the word EGOT. It’s a funny-sounding word, but those for letters actually stand for something that only 12 people since 1962 have been able to accomplish.
Coined by actor Philip Michael Thomas, EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, and it is an honor given to songwriters, composers, producers and actors who have won all four awards in their career.
Tonight, actor and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda will attempt to become the 13th person and youngest person to complete the EGOT when he competes for best original song thanks to his song in the film “Moana.” The star and writer of “Hamilton” earned his first Tony in 2008, a Grammy in 2009 and an Emmy in 2014.
What is the rare EGOT that Lin-Manuel Miranda is up for at the 2017 Oscars? Pictured: Lin-Manuel Miranda on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood. Photo: Getty Images
The first person to complete the feat was composer Richard Rodgers in 1962 who first won an Oscar in 1945, a Tony in 1950, a Grammy in 1960 and an Emmy in 1962. Following Rodgers, actress Helen Hayes became the first women to EGOT in 1977.
That same year, Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno completed her EGOT when she won an Emmy. Since Moreno’s win, nine other people have completed the EGOT including Audrey Hepburn in 1994, Jonathan Tunick in 1997, Mel Brooks in 2001 and Whoopi Goldberg in 2002.
In 2014, songwriter Robert Lopez became the latest person to EGOT when he won an Oscar. Lopez also holds the honor of being the fastest person to complete the feat, earning his EGOT in just 10 years. It took Hepburn 41 years to earn hers.
Stay tuned to International Business Times for live coverage of the 2017 Oscars. Find out how to watch the live stream HERE and check out this year’s full list of nominees HERE.
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