Jean Smart wins fifth straight Emmy for Hacks

tvSep 14, 2026291,241

Jean Smart won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the 2026 Emmy Awards for Hacks, claiming the trophy for the fifth consecutive season she played Deborah Vance. The 74-year-old received the award at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, becoming the first woman to win an acting Emmy for every season of a multi-season show. Hacks concluded its run this year, and Smart's five-for-five sweep is unmatched by any other female performer; the article notes Don Knotts previously won Emmys for every season he was a main cast member on The Andy Griffith Show. Smart beat nominees Quinta Brunson of Abbott Elementary, Ayo Edebiri of The Bear, Elle Fanning, and Lisa Kudrow. In a brief acceptance speech she said, "What a ride this has been."

Pop Crave

@popcrave.com

Jean Smart becomes the first woman to win an acting award for all seasons of their show at the Emmys. She earned five wins for ‘Hacks.’

3253h ago

Quoting this

Simone de Behavior11

virou a queridinha da academia? Virou! mas é pq ela é Boa!!!

Redacted Rodriguez11

Eat your heart out, jon hamm.

Mark10

What a joy it is to watch her get the recognition she deserves! 🥰🥰

Dansparce3

Sometimes its important to remember there are still good things that happen in this world

Paul2

Not to be bitter…. But this coulda been Lisa Koodz

lipe2

mulher querida berço de imenso talento

The Washington Post

@washingtonpost.com

Jean Smart has won lead actress in a comedy for all five seasons of “Hacks,” becoming the first woman to win an acting Emmy for every season of a multi-season TV series. https://wapo.st/4xUQv9f

2192h ago

W. Chris Winter, MD, F-AASM, D-ABSM, D-ABPN3

Well deserved. Amazing show and amazing performance.

The Associated Press

@apnews.com

Allison Janney won best supporting actress in a drama for "The Diplomat" at the 78th Emmy Awards. Janney joined Jean Smart as an eight-time Emmy winner. bit.ly/4dl2TXF

2282h ago

Quoting this

SpryOldLorax9

I just need to say that I freakin' LOVE Allison Janney. Congratulations to her. She's amazing. She rules the Universe.

Rachel H3

they should have immediately taken it away for her fake surprised acting after they announced her name. #ImSoHumble #Emmys

🍃LaurelLeaves🌿3

Excellent show. Couldn’t stop watching. It was full of surprising characterization and she, the most excellent casting surprise. If anyone else is binge-watching West Wing to survive, Josh Lyman plays her husband.

The A.V. Club

@avclub.com

There really is no one like Jean Smart, who won Outstanding Lead Actress for HACKS at the #Emmys. She just made history by becoming the first actress in television history to win an Emmy for every season of a series. Deborah Vance would be proud.

823h ago

Quoting this

Mrs. Detective Pikajew, Esq.80

This is misinformation, Keri Russell won for every season of The Americans

The New York Times

@nytimes.com

Allison Janney won the Emmy for best supporting actress in a drama for “The Diplomat,” tying Jean Smart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman for the most prime-time Emmy wins for acting with eight. Follow live updates.

772h ago

Quoting this

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Max2

FWIW, I watched "The Diplomat" on a Saturday during the day.

Rolling Stone

@rollingstone.com

Jean Smart, who just took home the award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for 'Hacks' at tonight’s #Emmys, sat down with Rolling Stone in 2022 to talk about the show and the most important lessons she's learned in life. Interview: www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...

653h ago

Daniel Fienberg

@thefienprint.bsky.social

HA. Jean Smart held the #Emmys record with eight acting wins solo for... 10 minutes.

433h ago

Kathleen Bachynski

@bachynski.bsky.social

Congratulations to Jean Smart for winning an Emmy for every season of Hacks!!! I got to interact with her in person for an amazing 30 seconds and I’m so thrilled for her every success.

353h ago

it’s g ♍️

@yourprettyboy.bsky.social

lisa kudrow wins best actress in a comedy series for ‘the comeback’ in my heart

222h ago

Eric Deggans

@edeggans.bsky.social

One thing almost all the early winners at #Emmys have in common -- Allison Janney, Matthew Rhys and Jean Smart - they are beloved by Emmy voters and have won in the past, though not perhaps in these categories. Interesting...

183h ago

Sarah O’Connell

@sarahoconnellshow.com

Congratulations to Jean Smart for winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks! 👏👏👏

172h ago

Nexus Point News

@nexuspointnews.com

Jean Smart wins the Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for ‘HACKS.’ Full #Emmys winners list: nexuspointnews.com/emmy-winners...

113h ago

Jaclyn Friedman

@jaclynf.bsky.social

look I know Hacks doesn't need me to defend it but GODDAMNIT THAT FINALE WAS A WORK OF ENDURING ART GIVE IT A FUCKING EMMY ALREADY

142h ago

Los Angeles Times

@latimes.com

The #Emmys are off to a roaring start! Rhea Seehorn, Jean Smart, Matthew Rhys and Allison Janney have already taken home little gold men. Keep up with all the winners at the link: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

93h ago

Nicholas Yenson 朱偉仲

@nicholasyenson.bsky.social

Jean Smart in A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 1977. 📷: Hank Kranzler

Jean Smart, downstage with eyes cast downward and arms crossed, in A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 1977. Two male actors stand upstage of her. Photo by Hank Kranzler.

81h ago

3 sources

variety.comJean Smart Becomes First Woman to Win an Emmy for Every Season of a Show With Fifth ‘Hacks’ Trophy linkst.nws.nydailynews.comJean Smart becomes first woman to sweep every season of her show at 2026 Emmys upi.comMatthew Rhys, Jean Smart, Allison Janney win Emmy Awards - UPI.com

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Jean Smart wins fifth straight Emmy for Hacks

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