Cynthia Erivo is one step closer to the coveted EGOT status with her 2025 Oscars nomination.
Erivo was nominated for best actress for her role as Elphaba in Wicked on Thursday, giving her a chance to EGOT -- meaning she would have won all four of the biggest awards in entertainment: an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.
Her EGOT story began back in 2016 when she won a Tony for best leading actress in a musical for her powerful performance as Celie in The Color Purple on Broadway. Erivo followed this up with a Grammy win in 2017 for best musical theater album for the Broadway cast recording of The Color Purple, alongside her Daytime Emmy victory the same year for outstanding musical performance with the Broadway cast.
Despite being nominated for two Academy Awards for the film Harriet—once for best actress and once for best original song for "Stand Up"—Erivo did not secure the wins then. Now, with Wicked, she has another opportunity to join the exclusive EGOT club.
Erivo's latest nomination has generated some buzz—especially since if she wins, she would become the youngest person ever to receive EGOT honors, surpassing current record holders John Legend, Robert Lopez, and songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
Responding to her nomination on Instagram, Erivo expressed her emotions, stating, "Moments like this don’t come along very often, and when they do, it is sacrilege to let them pass by without a moment of gratitude. I am grateful, grateful to @theacademy... for this unbelievable recognition."
Throughout her career, Erivo has garnered significant accolades including:
- Emmys: Win: 2017 - Outstanding On-Camera Musical Performance in a Daytime Program on Today with the cast of The Color Purple; Nomination: 2021 - Outstanding Lead Actress for her role of Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha.
- Grammys: Win: 2017 - Best Musical Theater Album for The Color Purple; Nomination: 2020 - Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Stand Up” [from Harriet].
- Tonys: Win: 2016 - Actress (Musical) for playing Celie; Nomination: 2023 - Best Play as co-producer for Fat Ham.
- Oscars: Current nomination - 2025 - Actress in Leading Role for her performance as Elphaba; Previous nominations: 2020 - Original Song nomination for “Stand Up”; 2020 - Actress for her role as Harriet Tubman.
Wicked was also recognized at the Academy Awards, receiving ten nominations including one for Ariana Grande's best supporting actress role as Galinda Upland.
The Oscars are set to air live on March 2, with Conan O’Brien taking the stage as host. The anticipation continues to build as Erivo's performances not only resonate across the screen and stage but also excite fans and critics alike. The hope is big for her this season, as she may soon achieve what many artists dream of and attain greatness as the youngest EGOT recipient.
Achieving EGOT status is no small feat. The exclusive club includes acclaimed figures like Rita Moreno, Audrey Hepburn, Whoopi Goldberg, Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Viola Davis, and Elton John. Winning the Oscar would solidify Erivo's place among these titans of entertainment.
If Erivo wins the Oscar this year, she will join this illustrious group and mark another historic achievement for the world of performance arts. The news surrounding her nomination has sparked interest and admiration, as fans eagerly await the ceremony to see if she will make history. Will she soar high and become the newest member of the EGOT elite? The Academy Awards await her magnificent performance.