In early 2015, you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing "Drip Drop" or seeing someone wearing a faux-fur coat in homage to Cookie Lyon. Empire wasn't just a television show. It was a cultural earthquake. Ratings grew every single week during its first season, something that basically never happens in modern TV. Yet, when you look back at the empire tv show awards history, there's a weird gap between how much people loved the show and how many trophies actually ended up on the shelf.
It’s kinda wild.
The Golden Globe That Actually Made Sense
If there is one person who carried the weight of the show's critical acclaim, it’s Taraji P. Henson. Honestly, the 2016 Golden Globes felt like a coronation. When she won for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama, she handed out cookies to the audience on her way to the stage. It was a "Cookie" move through and through.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association saw what the Emmys mostly ignored: the show was a juggernaut. It also got a nomination for Best Television Series – Drama that same year. They lost out to Mr. Robot, but the nomination itself felt like a win for network television at a time when streaming was starting to eat everyone’s lunch.
The Emmy Snub That Infuriated Lee Daniels
The Emmy Awards are a different story. It’s still a sore spot for fans. In 2015, the show was the biggest thing on the planet, but it only managed three nominations. Taraji got her nod for Lead Actress, which was expected, but the show was completely shut out of the Outstanding Drama Series category.
Lee Daniels didn't take it lying down. He actually posted a video on Instagram with Jussie Smollett, and let’s just say he used some very colorful language to describe his feelings about the Television Academy. He later walked it back, saying "I love the Emmys," but the damage was done. People felt like the "prestige TV" voters just didn't get what Empire was doing.
The show did pick up technical nominations over the years, mostly for:
- Outstanding Contemporary Costumes (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics (2016)
But for a show that redefined the musical drama, seeing zero wins in the major Primetime Emmy categories feels like a historical oversight.
Where the Real Wins Happened
While the "Big Two" awards were stingy, other organizations recognized the show for the powerhouse it was. The NAACP Image Awards basically turned into an Empire victory lap for several years. In 2016 alone, it cleaned up.
- Outstanding Drama Series: Winner
- Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: Terrence Howard (Winner)
- Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: Taraji P. Henson (Winner)
It’s important to look at the soundtrack, too. The Season 1 soundtrack debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, beating out Madonna. It even snagged a Grammy nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. Most shows are lucky to get a few iTunes downloads; Empire was competing with actual pop stars.
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Why the Industry Pulled Back
You’ve gotta wonder why the momentum slowed down. By the time the later seasons rolled around, the awards buzz had cooled significantly. Some critics say the writing got too "soapy," while others point to the off-screen drama involving Jussie Smollett in 2019 as the moment the show's "award-bait" status evaporated.
The Academy tends to favor shows that feel like a slow burn. Empire was a wildfire. It burned hot and bright and fast. When you look at the empire tv show awards tally, you see a show that was perhaps too "Black" or too "loud" for the traditional voting blocs of the mid-2010s, even if it was the only thing anyone was talking about at the water cooler.
Actionable Takeaways for TV Fans
If you're looking to dive back into the legacy of Empire, don't just look at the Emmy count. The show's impact is found elsewhere.
- Watch for the Performance: Taraji’s 2016 Golden Globe win is a masterclass in character-acting. Rewatch Season 1 just to see the nuance she brings to Cookie.
- Listen to the Production: Check out the Timbaland-produced tracks from the first two seasons. There’s a reason it was Grammy-nominated; the production quality was higher than almost any musical show before it.
- Look at the Costume Design: The show was nominated for four years straight in costuming for a reason. Paolo Nieddu’s work on the Lyon family's wardrobe influenced actual high-fashion trends for years.
Ultimately, Empire didn't need a shelf full of Emmys to prove it changed the game. It had the ratings, the culture, and the music. In the world of show business, sometimes that's worth a lot more than a gold-plated statue.