By Savannah Milam

Composers and songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are known mainly for having written musicals such as “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Dogfight” as well as the lyrics for movies like “La La Land” and the “Greatest Showman.” As of the Emmys, which were held on Sept. 8, Pasek and Paul have officially achieved EGOT status, which is a rare and difficult thing to accomplish. 

EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, which are the four main award ceremonies for the entertainment industry. This means that EGOT winners have to win an award for television, film, live theater, and music recording. As of 2024, only 21 people have ever achieved this status. With their Emmy win for “Only Murders in the Building,” Pasek and Paul are now two members of this elite category. 

Aside from the Emmy for their song “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” from season three of “Only Murders in the Building” they have also won a Grammy, Oscar, and Tony for various projects. Their Grammy win came from the cast recording of “Dear Evan Hansen.” Their Oscar came from “City of Stars” from “La La Land.” Finally, their Tony came from not only the score from “Dear Evan Hansen,” but also from their win as producers of “A Strange Loop” in 2022. 

Pasek and Paul are now tied with Tony Lopez for the youngest EGOT winners, all three having earned the title at the age of 39.  

I have been a huge fan of Pasek and Paul ever since I first listened to “Dear Evan Hansen” in middle school. When I was a senior in high school, I even took an online musical theater songwriting class with them, and I was just amazed at the way the perfect lyrics for the story just flowed out of them. Obviously, it’s a lot of work and time, but they make it look easy. 

Needless to say, I feel like this EGOT is more than well deserved. Pasek and Paul have spent decades working towards this and their work speaks for itself. I can’t wait to see what they can accomplish in the future, because I know that this is only the beginning.