Beyoncé is pulling out all stops — and raising some eyebrows — as she once again attempts to win her first Emmy.
Fresh off her historic first Grammy win for Album of the Year, the Cowboy Carter star's NFL Christmas Day halftime show for Netflix, titled Beyoncé Bowl, has earned four nominations — including two categories where she could take home the award: Best Variety Special (Live) and Best Directing for a Variety Special.
The Emmy has eluded Queen Bey — she has lost eight previous bids (nine if you count Daytime Emmys) — but her campaign for gold is in full swing. You can't get caught in an L.A. traffic jam without seeing billboards for the seven-month-old performance — she has even got posters at the bus stop. But if Emmy voters were expecting to rub elbows with the global superstar in some cozy 300-seat screening room, well, Beyoncé had a different strategy in mind — one only a premier diva could execute flawlessly.
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On May 7, Emmy voters were exclusively invited to a special FYC screening of Beyoncé Bowl at SoFi Stadium. The halftime show itself is a breezy 13-minute watch, but the real draw came after the screening. Attendees were invited to stay and experience her Cowboy Carter Tour from one of SoFi’s luxury suites. The move, while undeniably headline-making, sparked some controversy due to the significant price tag associated with tour tickets. However, Netflix was quick to quell concerns, confirming that the event had received the green-light from the Television Academy.
Now that the nominations are locked in, Beyoncé will have to overcome a strong lineup of contenders to snag her first Emmy. Also nominated for Best Variety Special (Live) are The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar, The Oscars, SNL50: The Anniversary Special, and SNL50: The Homecoming Concert. In the directing category, it's the same slate plus the 77th Annual Tony Awards.
Last year, The Oscars, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, won the award, beating out The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher, The 66th Grammy Awards, The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady, and The 76th Annual Tony Awards. The Oscars could be poised for a repeat, but the Super Bowl has had success in this category as well, winning in 2022 for the halftime show featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent. However, you can't count out SNL — the most Emmy-winning show in history. The Anniversary Special is up for 12 awards this year and The Homecoming Concert snagged six nominations.
With reports claiming Beyoncé is the most-awarded female singer of all time (Whitney Houston's estate and Guinness World Records beg to differ), will the 32-time Grammy winner finally be making space for her first Emmy this September?
A look back at Beyoncé's Emmys history:
2013: Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show nominated for Best Special Class — Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program (lost to Childrens Hospital)
2015: On the Run Tour: Beyoncé and Jay-Z nominated for Best Special Class Program (lost to
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street – Live From Lincoln Center)
2016: Lemonade nominated for Best Variety Special (lost to The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special)
2016: Lemonade nominated for Best Directing for a Variety Special (lost to Grease: Live)
2019: Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé nominated for Best Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) (lost to Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live From Liverpool)
2019: Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé nominated for Best Directing for a Variety Special (lost to Springsteen on Broadway)
2019: Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé nominated for Best Writing for a Variety Special (lost to Hannah Gadsby: Nanette)
2019: Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé nominated for Best Music Direction (lost to Fosse/Verdon)
2022 (Daytime Emmys): "Talks With Mama Tina" nominated for Best Original Song (lost to "We're Home" from Reconnecting Roots)