{"id":1026,"date":"2026-09-15T00:44:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T00:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/2026\/09\/15\/jean-smart-gets-emotional-as-she-makes-history-at-2026-emmys-with-5th-win-for-hacks-role-what-a-ride\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T00:44:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T00:44:05","slug":"jean-smart-gets-emotional-as-she-makes-history-at-2026-emmys-with-5th-win-for-hacks-role-what-a-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/2026\/09\/15\/jean-smart-gets-emotional-as-she-makes-history-at-2026-emmys-with-5th-win-for-hacks-role-what-a-ride\/","title":{"rendered":"Jean Smart Gets Emotional as She Makes History at 2026 Emmys with 5th Win for \u201cHacks\u201d Role: \u2018What a Ride\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Throughout her decades-long career, Smart has won eight Emmys, including two for her work on \u2018Frasier\u2019<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/fyWtE9DUKmdLvm9EKqK5UyGAlcM=\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)\/Jean-Smart-2026-Emmys-091426-1-f0f198c8075b4047b88c1d996201aa59.jpg\" alt=\"Jean Smart at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2026Credit: Kevin Winter\/Getty\" title=\"Jean Smart holding an Emmy Award on stage\" \/><figcaption><i>Jean Smart at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2026<br \/>Credit: Kevin Winter\/Getty<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Jean Smart makes history as she wins Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the 2026 Emmys<\/li>\n<li>The <em>Hacks <\/em>star tied the record for most Emmys won by a performer, which stands at eight, joining Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus<\/li>\n<li>Also, Smart is the first performer to win an Emmy for every season of their show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/jean-smart-11800140\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jean Smart<\/a> is taking home more than a trophy tonight \u2014 she\u2019s making history.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Hacks<\/em> star, 74, won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Deborah Vance in the HBO comedy <em>Hacks<\/em> at the 78th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 14.<\/p>\n<p>Smart began her acceptance speech by thanking Universal and HBO, and \u201cmy reps who are the best in the business, and my children who are my anchor, Forrest and Connor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut this one, I\u2019m dedicating to [series creators] Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, and Paul W. Downs. It all begins and ends with them. I love you guys so much. Thank you. Thank you all so much,\u201d she concluded, adding, \u201cWhat a ride this has been.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The actress\u2019 win made Emmys history as she became the first performer to win for every season of her show. The moment was not lost on the audience who gave the star a standing ovation.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/A3TyrCg2JtCmm_g6fci4c8Kykx4=\/fit-in\/1280x960\/Jean-Smart-2026-Emmys-091426-2-6f7571deea8d401fb6c6943e5e2b2861.jpg\" alt=\"Jean Smart at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2026Credit: Kevin Winter\/Getty\" title=\"Jean Smart holding an Emmy award on stage\" \/><figcaption><i>Jean Smart at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2026<br \/>Credit: Kevin Winter\/Getty<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s Smart\u2019s fifth consecutive win for playing Deborah Vance, setting the record for the Emmys\u2019 first-ever \u201cperfect run,\u201d winning for every season the show has aired. Three actors have previously won at least five Emmys for their respective shows \u2014 <a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/candice-bergen\/\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Candice Bergen<\/a> for <em>Murphy Brown<\/em>, <a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/don-knotts-daughter-recounts-moving-to-pacific-palisades-when-her-dad-got-famous-being-with-a-lot-of-other-famous-kids-12107293\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Don Knotts<\/a> for <em>The Andy Griffith Show <\/em>and <a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/julia-louis-dreyfus\/\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"3\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Julia Louis-Dreyfus<\/a> for <em>Veep<\/em> \u2014 but none have won for every season their show aired.<\/p>\n<p>Smart\u2019s win also tied the record for most Emmys won by a performer. Smart joins Cloris Leachman and Louis-Dreyfus as the only performers to win eight Emmys.<\/p>\n<p>The actress has also won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2008 for her role as Regina Newly in <em>Samantha Who? <\/em>Additionally, she won two Emmys for her guest appearances on <em>Frasier<\/em> in 2000 and 2001.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/WnVB4CZ4vZ761oZ8XJmg9N-OBxU=\/fit-in\/640x480\/jean-smart-emmys-arrivals-2026-eadd029b0c7e4700ad41239c3640fc1a.jpg\" alt=\"Jean Smart at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2026Credit: Randy Shropshire\/NBC via Getty\" title=\"Jean Smart arrives to the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026. -- \" \/><figcaption><i>Jean Smart at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2026<br \/>Credit: Randy Shropshire\/NBC via Getty<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Fans said goodbye to Deborah and the rest of the <em>Hacks<\/em> gang when the show came to an end in May. During <a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zS2dNYKpMaY\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Smart\u2019s appearance on <\/a><em><a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zS2dNYKpMaY\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jimmy Kimmel Live!<\/a><\/em><em> <\/em>on Aug. 18, she described her farewell to the hit show and her beloved character as \u201cbittersweet,\u201d though she always knew the show would conclude after five seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Smart told guest host <a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/rosie-odonnell\/\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rosie O\u2019Donnell<\/a> that she \u201cinstantly\u201d wanted the part of the Las Vegas comedian, however, there was one thing that scared her. \u201c[The stand-up part] was the only thing that scared me. I thought, \u2018Oh, will other comedians buy me as a comic?\u2019 That was the only thing that was concerning,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to <em><a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/tv\/tv-features\/jean-smart-interview-hacks-career-1235923236\/\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Hollywood Reporter<\/a><\/em> in 2024, Smart said the show was \u201ceverything I could want for my next job. But I needed to be sure that real stand-ups could believe I was a comic. I had never been a comedian, so they were the real litmus test. And I passed, I think!\u201d<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/y_4xpgIVrzGUrd6FK1_N7mEha9g=\/fit-in\/1280x960\/hacks-jean-smart-052926-10892f1d126045c594c02865c504fe12.jpg\" alt=\"Jean Smart in \u2018Hacks\u2019Credit: Courtesy of HBO Max\" title=\"Jean Smart in Hacks.\" \/><figcaption><i>Jean Smart in \u2018Hacks\u2019<br \/>Credit: Courtesy of HBO Max<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Other actresses nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series were <a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/quinta-brunson-reveals-episode-of-television-she-thinks-is-perfect-11989506\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Quinta Brunson<\/a> for <em>Abbott Elementary<\/em>, <a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/all-about-actress-ayo-edebiri-7551934\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ayo Edebiri<\/a> for <em>The Bear<\/em>, <a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/elle-fanning\/\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"3\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Elle Fanning<\/a> for <em>Margo\u2019s Got Money Troubles<\/em> and <a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/lisa-kudrow\/\" data-type=\"\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-ordinal=\"4\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lisa Kudrow<\/a> for <em>The Comeback.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>See <a class=\"null\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/emmy-awards\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"null\">PEOPLE\u2019s coverage <\/a>of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, airing live on NBC and Peacock on Sept. 14.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Throughout her decades-long career, Smart has won eight Emmys, including two for her work on \u2018Frasier\u2019 Jean Smart at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2026Credit: Kevin Winter\/Getty NEED TO KNOW Jean Smart makes history as she wins Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the 2026 Emmys The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-everything-else"],"wpmagazine_modules_lite_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":"","cvmm-medium":"","cvmm-medium-plus":"","cvmm-portrait":"","cvmm-medium-square":"","cvmm-large":"","cvmm-small":"","full":""},"categories_names":{"1":{"name":"Everything Else","link":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/category\/everything-else\/"}},"tags_names":[],"comments_number":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1026\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adsandthings.com\/winews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}