Beyoncé Scores First Emmy Win Ahead of Primetime Awards

Beyoncé earned her first Emmy for costumes in “Beyoncé Bowl”, moving closer to EGOT status. She’s also up for best variety special and direction, competing against husband Jay-Z’s Super Bowl halftime show.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, her full legal name, was among a select group of six individuals who earned recognition for outstanding costumes in a variety, nonfiction, or reality show. The accolade was awarded for “Beyoncé Bowl”, her Western-themed halftime extravaganza that aired as part of Netflix’s special broadcast of the NFL’s Christmas Day game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans.

The performance was more than just a visual spectacle — it was a deeply personal moment for the global superstar, taking place in her hometown of Houston and featuring the live debut of tracks from her much-anticipated “Cowboy Carter” album. This Emmy win holds particular significance for Beyoncé, marking her very first victory after 10 previous nominations that did not result in a win. With her record-breaking 35 Grammy Awards already in the bag, the achievement brings her halfway toward the elusive EGOT status, an honor reserved for those who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. She now only needs a Tony and an Oscar to join the exclusive club.

The award was one of several so-called “juried” Emmys unveiled on Tuesday. These special honors are decided through a different process than the standard Emmy categories. Instead of a general voting body, they are determined by specialized committees with expertise in the relevant field. Juried awards have no formal list of nominees and are generally given for highly technical contributions, often involving intricate aspects of production such as animation, set design, or costuming. It is uncommon for these honors to go to household names, which makes Beyoncé’s win all the more remarkable. The recipients of juried Emmys are announced ahead of time, with the physical awards being presented during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony scheduled for next month.

Beyoncé’s award is not her only shot at Emmy glory this year. She is also nominated for best variety special as a producer of “Beyoncé Bowl” and for best direction of a variety special. Adding a personal twist to the competition, her husband, rapper and business mogul Jay-Z, is nominated in the same category — but for a different project. He serves as an executive producer for Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed Super Bowl halftime show, setting up a unique husband-versus-wife face-off in one of television’s most prestigious arenas.