Barack Obama wins Emmy, former president now halfway to an EGOT

vt-author-image

By Carina Murphy

Article saved!Article saved!

Having spent eight years as the President of the United States, it's fair to say Barack Obama is a high achiever.

So maybe it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that the former POTUS is well on his way to reaching another milestone - albeit in a totally different walk of life to politics.

After winning an Emmy on Saturday night, Obama is halfway to a coveted EGOT - the abbreviation used to refer to an actor who has bagged an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony.

Obama was awarded the Best Narrator Emmy for his work on the Netflix documentary series, 'Our Great National Parks.' Produced by the Obama's production company 'Higher Ground', the five-part show explores national parks around the world.

wp-image-1263167994 size-full
Credit: Allstar Picture Library Ltd / Alamy

The former president beat out big hitters in his category at Saturday night's Creative Arts Emmys, with the likes of Sir David Attenborough and Lupita Nyong'o also nominated for the Best Narrator award.

With a Grammy already under his belt, Obama's win puts him well on the way toward an EGOT.

The ex-head of state actually has two Grammy awards to his name, both of which he won for his audiobook readings of two of his memoirs: 'The Audacity of Hope' and 'A Promised Land'.

While he may be the first POTUS to score both a Grammy and an Emmy, several other former presidents have been the recipients of showbiz awards.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was given an honorary Emmy in 1955 after becoming the first president to give a televised news conference. Meanwhile, both Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter have won Grammy awards for their audiobook readings.

If Obama does secure a Tony and an Oscar, he'll join an even more exclusive club of EGOT winners, which to this date includes only 17 people. Stars who have bagged all four awards include Audrey Hepburn, Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson.

wp-image-1263096558 size-full
Boseman. Credit: PA Images

Other notable wins at Saturday's Emmy's included the late Chadwick Boseman, whose work on the Disney+ and Marvel Studios animated show 'What If…?' won him an outstanding character voiceover award.

Boseman - who passed away from colon cancer in 2020 - voiced his Black Panther character T'Challa in an alternate universe where he becomes Star-Lord from 'Guardians of the Galaxy.'

Featured Image Credit: Allstar Picture Library Ltd / Alamy