Jean Smart at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
Variety via Getty Images
The 78th Emmy Awards produced one of the more remarkable coincidences in the ceremony’s history on Monday night: Jean Smart and Allison Janney both won their eighth Emmy Award within minutes of each other, each tying the all-time record for most Emmy wins. It must be noted this record is not just for female performers but any actor ever.
The record was previously held jointly by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the late Cloris Leachman.
Smart, 75, won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the fifth and final season of Hacks, having won the same Emmy for every eligible season of the show in 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, and tonight.
Smart entered her Hacks era already holding three Emmys. She had two for guest appearances as Lana Gardner on Frasier in 2000 and 2001, and one for playing Regina Newly on Samantha Who? in 2008. Her five wins for “Hacks” bring her total to eight.
Accepting the trophy from Zendaya, Smart opened by jokingly asking the women in the room to sit down. “Every time this happens, I think the girls are going, ‘Oh, I just got comfortable. Why did you…? Oh, my God,’” she said. “You got your Spanx, and your tape and you’re, like, the shoes that are cutting your toes off, you’re going, Oh, my God, she’s not THAT good. You just stood up because she’s old.”
78th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: Allison Janney accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Award for “The Diplomat” on stage during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images)
NBC via Getty Images
Minutes later, Janney, 66, won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for playing President Grace Penn in Netflix’s The Diplomat. She looked definitely surprised at the win, perhaps given the category included multiple nominees from The Pitt, Paradise, and Pluribus.
Janney’s Emmy history goes across three decades and three shows. Her four wins for The West Wing were split between two categories: outstanding supporting actress in a drama series in 2000 and 2001, then outstanding lead actress in a drama series in 2002 and 2004. She also picked up Supporting Actress wins for Mom in 2014 and 2015, and a Guest Actress win for Masters of Sex in 2014.
Tonight’s win is her first Emmy for The Diplomat.
A Stacked Emmy Night That Belonged To Two Legends
Smart was up against Ayo Edebiri for The Bear, Lisa Kudrow for The Comeback, Elle Fanning for Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and Quinta Brunson for Abbott Elementary.
Jean Smart, Lisa Kudrow and Elle Fanning at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
Variety via Getty Images
Kudrow’s case was hotly discussed before the show, given she has still not received an Emmy for the much acclaimed The Comeback, of which this was the revived and final season.
Smart won anyway, from her 15th career Emmy nomination. She has now won the Lead Comedy Actress category more times than anyone in Emmy history.
Both records came on the same night, in the same room and minutes apart. Definitely legend material at the Emmys.
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