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| The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, airing live Sept. 14 on CBS and Paramount+, will spotlight a competitive and diverse field — including record-breaking nominations for Quinta Brunson and Ayo Edebiri and standout first-time nods for Brian Tyree Henry and Tramell Tillman. |
Black Excellence at the 2025 Emmys
- Quinta Brunson – Nominated for lead actress in a comedy and writing. Ties Tracee Ellis Ross for most lead comedy nods by a Black woman (4 total).
- Ayo Edebiri – First Black woman nominated for both acting and directing in comedy in the same year. Youngest to earn 3 acting Emmy noms.
- Sterling K. Brown – Lead actor nod for "Paradise" marks his seventh series with Emmy recognition, tying Don Cheadle’s record.
- Brian Tyree Henry – Earned a lead actor nod for "Dope Thief." Continues building a standout post-"Atlanta" resume.
- Tramell Tillman – First-time nominee for supporting actor in drama for his breakout role in "Severance."
- Janelle James – Supporting actress nominee for her scene-stealing role in "Abbott Elementary."
- Sheryl Lee Ralph – Repeat supporting nomination for "Abbott Elementary," adding to her late-career Emmy surge.
Winners will be announced at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, live from Los Angeles.
Quinta Brunson and Sheryl Lee Ralph are once again representing for “Abbott Elementary,” both earning repeat nominations for their sharp, hilarious work on the ABC hit. Janelle James also picked up a supporting actress nod, keeping the entire Abbott trio in the race for another year of Emmy love. Notably, Brunson's nomination marks her fourth acting nod, tying her with Tracee Ellis Ross for third most-nominated Black woman in lead comedy actress. She also made history by tying Stefani Robinson for most writing nominations by a Black woman (three total), and is the first to achieve all three writing nominations for a single series.
“The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri landed a nomination for lead actress in a comedy — a major bump from her previous supporting win. Beyond her acting nod, Edebiri also secured a directing nomination for "The Bear" episode "Napkins," making her the first woman nominated for acting and directing in comedy in the same year, and only the second Black woman nominated for comedy directing. At 29, she also becomes the youngest Black woman to receive three Emmy acting nominations. Meanwhile, Sterling K. Brown returned to the drama lead actor field for his role in “Paradise,” a series that continues to build critical momentum after a strong first season. This nomination marks his seventh different series to receive recognition, tying Don Cheadle for the most among Black male performers.
One of the most exciting newcomers? Brian Tyree Henry, nominated for lead actor in a limited series for “Dope Thief.” It’s another milestone for the “Atlanta” standout, who’s quietly building one of the most versatile careers of his generation.
Tramell Tillman made waves in “Severance” and earned his first Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a drama, sharing the category with heavyweights like Sam Rockwell and Walton Goggins. Tillman’s breakout role as the chilling Mr. Milchick has become one of the show’s most talked-about performances.
On the reality and variety side, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” picked up another nomination for best competition series, while “The Daily Show,” now led by Jon Stewart, made the cut for outstanding talk series. Both continue to reflect the shifting cultural and political discourse in television.
But for all the deserved nods, the list also left some audiences asking questions. Where was Donald Glover? And what about the cultural juggernaut “Swarm”? While "Swarm" star Dominique Fishback did earn her first Emmy nod in 2023 for Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, the series itself was noticeably absent from major nominations this year, despite its impact. Even in a year of expanding representation, some of Black TV’s most experimental and genre-bending work went overlooked.
Still, the 2025 Emmys are shaping up to be one of the most competitive — and culturally rich — in recent memory. From network comedies to Apple TV+ thrillers, the nominations reflect a growing, if uneven, appetite for inclusion and depth in storytelling. Whether the winners follow that trend when the Emmys air September 14 remains to be seen.
“The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri landed a nomination for lead actress in a comedy — a major bump from her previous supporting win. Beyond her acting nod, Edebiri also secured a directing nomination for "The Bear" episode "Napkins," making her the first woman nominated for acting and directing in comedy in the same year, and only the second Black woman nominated for comedy directing. At 29, she also becomes the youngest Black woman to receive three Emmy acting nominations. Meanwhile, Sterling K. Brown returned to the drama lead actor field for his role in “Paradise,” a series that continues to build critical momentum after a strong first season. This nomination marks his seventh different series to receive recognition, tying Don Cheadle for the most among Black male performers.
One of the most exciting newcomers? Brian Tyree Henry, nominated for lead actor in a limited series for “Dope Thief.” It’s another milestone for the “Atlanta” standout, who’s quietly building one of the most versatile careers of his generation.
Quick Look: Top Emmy Nominees by Program
- “Severance” (Apple TV+): 27 nominations
- “The Penguin” (HBO): 24 nominations
- “The White Lotus” (HBO): 23 nominations
- “The Studio” (Apple TV+): 23 nominations
- “The Bear” (FX): 13 nominations
- “Abbott Elementary” (ABC): 6 nominations
- “Adolescence” (Netflix): 13 nominations
- “Dying For Sex” (FX): 9 nominations
- “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (MTV): 8 nominations
- “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central): 8 nominations
Full list available at Emmys.com.
Tramell Tillman made waves in “Severance” and earned his first Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a drama, sharing the category with heavyweights like Sam Rockwell and Walton Goggins. Tillman’s breakout role as the chilling Mr. Milchick has become one of the show’s most talked-about performances.
On the reality and variety side, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” picked up another nomination for best competition series, while “The Daily Show,” now led by Jon Stewart, made the cut for outstanding talk series. Both continue to reflect the shifting cultural and political discourse in television.
But for all the deserved nods, the list also left some audiences asking questions. Where was Donald Glover? And what about the cultural juggernaut “Swarm”? While "Swarm" star Dominique Fishback did earn her first Emmy nod in 2023 for Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, the series itself was noticeably absent from major nominations this year, despite its impact. Even in a year of expanding representation, some of Black TV’s most experimental and genre-bending work went overlooked.
Still, the 2025 Emmys are shaping up to be one of the most competitive — and culturally rich — in recent memory. From network comedies to Apple TV+ thrillers, the nominations reflect a growing, if uneven, appetite for inclusion and depth in storytelling. Whether the winners follow that trend when the Emmys air September 14 remains to be seen.
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