Viola Davis Earns EGOT with Grammy Award for Memoir Audiobook Narration: 'I Just EGOT!'

Glenn Garner
·3 min read
Viola Davis Earns EGOT with Grammy Award for Memoir Audiobook Narration: 'I Just EGOT!'

Viola Davis is officially an EGOT winner!

The actress, 57, claimed the coveted title — which also requires an Academy Award, Emmy Award and Tony Award — as she won best audiobook, narration & storytelling recording for her memoir Finding Me on Sunday at the 65th Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony.

"Oh my God! I wrote this book to honor the 6-year-old Viola, to honor her life, her joy, her trauma, everything," Davis began in her acceptance speech. "And it has just been such a journey. I just EGOT!"

RELATED: Taylor Swift, Viola Davis, James Cameron and More Snubbed by Oscars 2023 Nominations

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Viola Davis accepts the Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling award for "Finding Me" onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Viola Davis accepts the Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling award for "Finding Me" onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Frazer Harrison/Getty Viola Davis

She continued to thank "everybody who was a part of my story, and the best chapter yet, my loves [husband Julius Tennon and 12-year-old daughter Genesis]. You are my life and my joy, the best chapter in my book. Thank you!"

For more on the 2023 Grammy Awards, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

Fellow EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson celebrated the accomplishment on Twitter, sharing a video of Davis' speech. "Hold the line!!!!!!! Viola Davis just became EGOT #18!!! Omg @violadavis U are absolutely everything! Congratulations to a living LEGEND. Time to celebrate!!!" she wrote.

Davis' first Grammy win was also her first nomination, beating out Jamie Foxx (Act Like You Got Some Sense), Mel Brooks (All About Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz) and Questlove (Music Is History) for the award.

RELATED: All of the Celebs Who've Earned an EGOT

The Woman King star's journey to EGOT status began in 2001 when she won best featured actress in a play at the 55th Tony Awards for her performance as Tonya in Broadway's King Hedley II. She was previously nominated in the same category for Seven Guitars in 1996.

In 2010, she won best leading actress in a play for her role of Rose Maxson in Fences, which also earned her first Academy Award in 2017 for Best Supporting Actress in the play's feature adaptation.

Viola Davis Cover Rollout
Viola Davis Cover Rollout

She was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2009 for Doubt, as well as Best Actress in 2012 for The Help and 2021 for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Davis won her first Emmy Award in 2015 for outstanding lead actress in a drama series (the first Black actress to win the category), thanks to her starring performance as Annalise Keating in ABC's How to Get Away with Murder.

RELATED VIDEO: Lizzo and Myke Wright Make Grammy Weekend Debut as Couple at Clive Davis Gala: 'Hard Launch'

The role earned her four other nominations, including for outstanding guest actress in a drama series in 2018 after making an appearance on Shondaland sister series Scandal.

Hosted by Trevor Noah for the third consecutive year, the 65th Grammy Awards air live Sunday night from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. With five new categories, Beyoncé leads the nominations with nine for her seventh solo studio album, Renaissance.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Presenters include Cardi B, Olivia Rodrigo, Shania Twain, Billy Crystal, James Corden, Viola Davis, Dwayne Johnson and First Lady Jill Biden, as well as performances by Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, Steve Lacy, Lizzo, Kim Petras and more.

The 65th Grammy Awards air live at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, during which the show will also be available to stream on Paramount+.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Is This Legal Strategy Trump’s Last Hope in Hush-Money Case?

    Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/GettyAs his criminal trial gets underway with opening statements and the presentation of the first prosecution witness, defendant Donald Trump’s defense lawyers signaled a “throw everything against the wall and see what sticks” strategy that may reflect a desperate attempt to find something– anything–that may appeal to a lone holdout juror.Indeed, the phrase “you only need one”–or some variation of that–seems to have become mantra among repor

  • Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad lead Rangers to 4-3 win over Capitals for 2-0 series lead

    NEW YORK (AP) — Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad each had a goal and an assist and the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers held on to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 Tuesday night for a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Jack Roslovic and K'Andre Miller also scored for the Rangers, and Erik Gustafsson and Alexis Lafreniere each had two assists. Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 shots. New York, seeking its first Stanley Cup championship in 30 years, has won four straight and 12 o

  • Q1 2024 Quest Diagnostics Inc Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 Quest Diagnostics Inc Earnings Call

  • Q1 2024 Medpace Holdings Inc Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 Medpace Holdings Inc Earnings Call

  • Dow Jones Futures Rise After Market Rallies Again; Tesla Soars As Elon Musk Touts 'Affordable' EV, Robotaxi

    The rally attempt is gaining steam. Tesla soared as Elon Musk said "affordable" EVs will come in 2025 and touted robotaxis.

  • Suns vs TImberwolves Game Highlights

    Minnesota defeats Phoenix, 105-93, to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. For Minnesota, Jaden McDaniels led the way with a playoff career-high 25 points and 8 rebounds while aided by Rudy Gobert (18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals) and Mike Conley (18 points, 4 assists) in the victory. Devin Booker finished with 20 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals while Kevin Durant added 18 points and 6 rebounds for Phoenix

  • Kawhi Leonard returns to the Clippers' lineup for Game 2 against Luka Doncic and the Mavericks

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard returned to the Los Angeles Clippers’ lineup for Game 2 of their playoff series against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Leonard received the loudest cheers of anyone in the team's starting lineup when he was introduced. He stole the ball from Kyrie Irving , but missed his first jumper in the lane in the opening minutes. Leonard came back after missing three weeks because of right knee inflammation. “He's done all the necessary things he has to do to get on

  • Drop-in youth center funding at risk

    Funding for drop-in youth centers is at risk.

  • Maduro announces return of UN rights office to Venezuela

    President Nicolas Maduro announced Tuesday that a United Nations human rights office would begin operating in Venezuela once again, after it was suspended and its staff ordered to leave in February. The change comes as Maduro is under fire at home and abroad over his leftist government's human rights record as he cracks down on dissent while seeking a third term in power.He has in particular drawn criticism for preventing a widely popular opposition leader from running against him in July electi

  • Suspect was 'targeting' Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in home break-in, district attorney says

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 29-year-old suspect in a break-in at the home of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass last weekend was charged Tuesday with burglary and vandalism, and authorities said they believe he was “targeting” the mayor but did not know why. Ephraim Matthew Hunter, a Los Angeles resident, was charged with a felony count of first-degree residential burglary and a felony count of vandalism, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón said. Hunter shattered a rear glass door early Sunday mornin

  • Q1 2024 LKQ Corp Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 LKQ Corp Earnings Call

  • Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology - Full Image Gallery

    See every angle of the electric Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology with our extensive photo gallery below. The models featured in the press images are European models, but the truck will arrive Stateside before too long;.

  • Mercedes Just Unveiled the All-Electric G-Wagen. Here’s What We Know.

    The zero-emissions G 580 touts 579 hp and 859 ft lbs of torque, but the range estimate is modest at best.

  • 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology First Look: The all-electric G is here

    The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology is here, and it's the electric G Wagen we've been waiting on.

  • Top Plays from Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Suns

    Top Plays from Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Suns,04/23/2024

  • Timberwolves take 2-0 lead on Suns behind 25 points and ace defense from Jaden McDaniels

    MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points for a career best in the playoffs and spearheaded another stifling defensive performance by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 105-93 victory over the Phoenix Suns to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series on Tuesday night. Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert each added 18 points to help the Timberwolves offset the smothering of Anthony Edwards by the Suns, who held the All-Star to 15 points after allowing him 33 in the opener. Edwards went 3 for 12

  • Why AP called the Pennsylvania 12th District primary for Summer Lee: Race call explained

    WASHINGTON (AP) — In her primary victory Tuesday in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, first-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Summer Lee not only far outperformed her lone challenger across the District, but she was also on track to far surpass her own win in the primary two years ago. The Associated Press called the race for Lee at 9:21 p.m. ET, when she led Edgewood Borough Councilmember Bhavini Patel, 59% to 41%, with more than half of the vote reporting. Lee was ahead in both vote-rich All

  • Migrants indicted in Texas over alleged border breach after judge dismissed charges

    EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A Texas grand jury indicted more than 140 migrants on misdemeanor rioting charges Tuesday over an alleged mass attempt to breach the U.S.-Mexico border, a day after a judge threw out the cases. No injuries were reported during the alleged breach on April 12 in El Paso, which authorities say began when someone in the group cut through a razor wire barrier. Mass arrests also followed a separate episode in the Texas border city in March. On Monday, a county judge had thrown ou

  • UPDATE 1-Trump meets with Japan's former prime minister Aso

    Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, a senior figure in the country's ruling party, met with Donald Trump on Tuesday, becoming the latest U.S. ally seeking to establish ties with the Republican presidential candidate. The 83-year-old Aso, who is currently vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, entered Trump Tower in Manhattan on Tuesday evening and met with the former U.S. president for about an hour. "He's a highly respected man in Japan and beyond and somebody that I've liked and I've known through our very dear friend Shinzo," Trump said as he escorted Aso into the building, referring to the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

  • Witt cashes in on Guerrero error as Royals edge Blue Jays 3-2

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. delivered the go-ahead double in the fifth inning for Kansas City after a costly error by Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and the Royals' bullpen shut down Toronto the rest of the way in a 3-2 victory Tuesday night. Chris Stratton (2-1) minimized the damage when he inherited a bases-loaded jam from Michael Wacha in the fifth. He also took care of the sixth before John Schreiber handled the seventh and James McArthur breezed through the eighth