Steven Spielberg Wins First Grammy Award, Achieves EGOT Status

Steven Spielberg is now an EGOT.

The legendary director-producer has joined Elton John, Viola Davis, Rita Morena, and about two dozen other artists in the esteemed ranks of people who’ve won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. He snagged the rare status Sunday after winning a Grammy for his work as a producer on Music By John Williams, the documentary that won the Best Music Film category at the 68^th Grammy Awards in downtown Los Angeles.

Spielberg, 79, didn’t take the stage to receive his award, but Laurent Bouzereau, the film’s director, thanked him and fellow producer Ron Howard for helping “tell the story of one of our greatest music voices ever.” The film explores the life of Williams, 93, the composer who collaborated with Spielberg for decades, creating the music for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the Indiana Jones series, Jurassic Park, and Schindler’s List.

Spielberg was lined up to grab EGOT standing after winning several Emmys and Oscars for projects including Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan, and his 2022 Tony Award for Best Musical for being a producer of A Strange Loop.

After collaborating with Spielberg on 2022’s The Fabelmans — which earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original  Score — Williams said he planned to retire. He later returned to score Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Speaking at an American Cinematheque event, he explained the decision was out of his hands in some respects.  

“Steven is a lot of things. He’s a director, he’s a producer, he’s a studio head, he’s a writer, he’s a philanthropist, he’s an educator. One thing he isn’t is a man you can say ‘no’ to,” Williams said during the conversation. “Also, you can’t ‘retire’ from music. It’s like breathing. It’s your life. It’s my life. A day without music is a mistake.”