Elton John Completes His EGOT for an Infamous Concert
One of the most turbulent moments in Disney history just became a significant footnote in the career of Elton John.
Here’s what just happened.
What’s an EGOT?!
Are you familiar with the term EGOT? It’s a Hollywood acronym that multi-faceted talents chase.
The term EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
You advance toward an EGOT by winning one of these prestigious awards.
So, when someone is halfway to an EGOT, it means they’ve won prizes in two of the four categories.
For example, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and her husband, Robert Lopez, are currently three-quarters of the way to an EGOT.
The beloved Disney duo has won two Academy Awards for their songs from Frozen and Coco, plus two Grammys and an Emmy.
While the couple has won five individual awards, the victories only came in three of the four requisite categories: the two Grammys, one Emmy, and the two Academy Awards/Oscars.
To complete the EGOT, Anderson and Anderson-Lopez would need to win a Tony, which strikes me as quite likely.
However, the fact that the musicians haven’t won yet after all their success underscores the challenge of claiming the EGOT.
Currently, only 19 performers have claimed an EGOT in competitive races.
There’s a side list of EGOTs for six people whose work includes honorary awards, and I certainly wouldn’t dismiss that group.
The names there include James Earl Jones, Barbra Streisand, and Frank Marshall!
What you can take from this information is that only 25 people in history have managed an EGOT during their storied careers.
Sir Elton John Wins an EGOT
The most recent recipient of this honor claimed his title at the Emmy Awards on January 15th, 2024.
Sir Elton John had previously earned a Grammy, a Tony, and an Academy Award…and he managed all these victories by 2000!
At that point, the beloved musician was in position to become the eighth person to win the competitive EGOT.
Instead, my fellow Atlanta Braves fan waited another 24 years before finally completing the EGOT at the 2024 Emmys.
The event for which he won provides a fascinating subplot for Disney fans.
The Emmys lauded Elton John for Outstanding Variety Special (Live). And that statement may cause some tingling in your brain.
You probably remember the event but don’t quite recall why.
The artist recorded a live performance on Disney+. The concert was called Elton John: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.
The live broadcast (presumably) represented a highlight of then-CEO Bob Chapek’s career.
Chapek intended to walk out on stage and introduce John, who has sold more than 300 million (!) records worldwide, thereby cementing Disney+ as a success.
Alas, something happened backstage that no Disney fan will ever forget.
Disney’s Board of Directors informed Chapek that they had chosen to fire him and replace him with his old boss, Bob Iger.
Yes, that seminal moment in Disney history occurred just before Elton John went out on stage and gave the performance of a lifetime.
His final show at Dodger Stadium ultimately provided the exclamation mark to his career by winning him this Emmy and thereby completing the EGOT.
For Disney fans, the day will always be more memorable for something else that happened behind the scenes at the concert that night, though…
PS: If you want to watch the award-winning live concert, it’s still available on Disney+. Tiny Dancer is the fifth song on the setlist.
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