Beyoncé and Jay-Z to Compete Against Each Other for an Emmy This Year

Beyoncé is facing some particularly familiar competition for an Emmy this year: her own husband. 

On Tuesday, it was revealed that both Beyoncé and Jay-Z (whose real name is Shawn Carter) were nominated in the outstanding variety special (live) category at the 2025 Emmys. The nomination for Beyoncé came from her halftime show performance during the NFL’s Christmas Day game on Netflix, while Jay-Z was recognized as an executive producer for Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on Apple Music.

In a more conversational tone:
On Tuesday, Beyoncé and Jay-Z found out they were both nominated in the outstanding variety special (live) category at the 2025 Emmys! The nomination for Beyoncé was for her halftime show during the NFL’s Christmas Day game on Netflix, while Jay-Z got recognized as an executive producer for Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on Apple Music.

It’s challenging to determine if a husband and wife have ever contested in the same Emmy category before, as such instances are relatively uncommon.

Or:

It’s difficult to find records showing that a husband and wife have competed against each other in the same Emmy category historically, given that it doesn’t happen often.

Both Beyoncé’s and Lamar’s halftime performances received rave reviews and were trailblazing. Beyoncé made history by performing the first-ever NFL halftime show on Christmas Day, while Lamar set a record for the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show ever with over 133 million viewers. The music special SNL50: The Homecoming Concert is also nominated in this year’s variety special (live) category, and it will be competing against the Oscars as well as another Saturday Night Live special, SNL50: The Anniversary Special.

In addition to being recognized for her variety special itself, Beyoncé was also given a nomination for exceptional direction of a variety special, shared with co-director Alex Rudzinski. This is the third time she’s been nominated in this category, having previously received nominations for “Lemonade” in 2016 and “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” in 2019. Furthermore, both Beyoncé and Lamar’s halftime shows were acknowledged for their exceptional choreography in the variety or reality programming category. Charm La’Donna was nominated for the choreography of both shows. Additionally, Tyrik Patterson, Christopher Grant, and Parris Goebel were nominated for the choreography of “Beyonce Bowl” as well.

Lamar, along with Tony Russell, was also recognized for exceptional music direction during the halftime show. Additionally, Questlove and James Poyser were both selected for musical direction at the SNL anniversary concert. In addition to this, Questlove received a nomination for outstanding directing in a documentary/nonfiction program with “Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years Of SNL Music.” Furthermore, he was also nominated for an outstanding documentary or nonfiction special award for “Sly Lives! (Aka The Burden of Black Genius).

Among the Emmy’s seven categories dedicated to music, notable nominees were Hans Zimmer for his work on “The Americas”, Adam Sandler along with Dan Bulla for their composition of “Adam Sandler’s Song: 50 Years” in “SNL50: The Anniversary Special”, and Kristen Wiig, Sean Douglas, and Josh Greenbaum for their music and lyrics on “Harper and Will Go West” from “Will & Harper”.

The full list of nominees for this year’s Emmy music categories is below.

Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score)

Andor, “Who Are You”
Brandon Roberts, Composer

Based On A True Story, “Relapse”
Sherri Chung, Composer

Cobra Kai, “Blood In Blood Out”
Leo Birenberg, Composer
Zach Robinson, Composer

Severance,“Cold Harbor”
Theodore Shapiro, Composer

The Studio, “The Missing Reel”
Antonio Sánchez, Composer

The music composition in ‘The White Lotus’ titled ‘Amor Fati’, created by Cristobal Tapia de Veer, was exceptional for a limited series or anthology.

Black Mirror, “Hotel Reverie”
Ariel Marx, Composer

Black Mirror, “USS Callister: Into Infinity”
Daniel Pemberton, Composer

* “Dying For Sex” – It’s not about being desperate for sex
+ The title doesn’t mean that people are actually dying, but rather it implies a strong desire or craving for sexual activity.
* “Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story”, “Spree” – Composed by Thomas Newman and Julia Newman
+ This means that the composers who worked on the movies “Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story” and “Spree” are both named Thomas Newman and Julia Newman.

The Penguin, “After Hours”
Mick Giacchino, Composer

Composition for the title ‘The Feast at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat’ by Kathryn Bostic, recognized as Exceptional Music Composition in a Documentary Series or Special

The Americas, “Andes”
Hans Zimmer, Composer
Anže Rozman, Composer
Kara Talve, Composer

Chef’s Table “José Andrés”

Duncan Thum, Composer
David Bertok, Composer

Leonardo Da Vinci
Caroline Shaw, Composer

Planet Earth: Asia, “Beneath The Waves”Jacob Shea, Composer
Laurentia Editha, Composer

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Ilan Eshkeri, Composer

Outstanding Music Direction

Kendrick Lamar will be the headliner for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, which he will also be directing musically. Tony Russell is another music director contributing to this event.

Kendrick Lamar has been announced as the main act for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, where he’ll also serve as the musical director. Tony Russell will be joining him in that role.

The Kennedy Center Honors
Rickey Minor, Music Director

The Oscars
Michael Bearden, Music Director

Special 50th Anniversary of SNL: Musical Directors Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis, and Eli Brueggemann

50th Anniversary Special at SNL: The Returning Musical Event
James Poyser, Lead Music Supervisor
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Lead Music Supervisor

Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics

Agatha All Along, Open the Door to Your Destiny / Reveal Your Secret Witchcraft.” Song “The Ballad of the Witches’ Journey”
Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Music & Lyrics
Robert Lopez, Music & Lyrics

In a different rendition, the title of the song from “Andor” could be: “We Are the Ghor – Planetary Anthem,” with music and lyrics by Nicholas Britell and Tony Gilroy.

Let’s Revive the Spirit of Holidays as We Knew It” (Christopher Lennertz, Music & Lyrics)

Fifty Years on SNL Special: Adam Sandler’s Tune – Composed and Written by Adam Sandler” or simply “SNL50 Special Song: 50 Years by Adam Sandler (Composition & Lyrics)

Westward Bound with Harper and Will” (Composed by Sean Douglas; Lyrics by Kristen Wiig and Josh Greenbaum)

Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music

Dept. Q
Carlos Rafael Rivera, Composer
Scott Frank, Composer

Dune: Prophecy
Volker Bertelmann, Composer

Lazarus
Kamasi Washington

The Residence
Mark Mothersbaugh, Composer

The White Lotus
Cristobal Tapia de Veer, Composer

Your Friends & Neighbors
Dominic Lewis, Composer
Hamilton Leithauser, Composer

Outstanding Music Supervision

Hacks, “I Love LA”
Matt Biffa, Music Supervisor

In this production of “The Last of Us,” titled “The Price,” Evyen Klean, Ian Broucek, and Scott Hanau serve as the music supervisors.

The Righteous Gemstones, Devoe Yates and Gabe Hilfer’s music selection, powerfully expresses the feeling of being cast into the deepest part of the ocean.

Severance, “Cold Harbor”
George Drakoulias, Music Supervisor

The Studio, “The Promotion”
Gabe Hilfer, Music Supervisor

The White Lotus, “Same Spirits, New Forms”
Gabe Hilfer, Music Supervisor

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2025-07-15 22:55