“The Kelly Clarkson Show” came out with a bang. The daytime talk show won five awards Friday at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmys, including the top prize for daytime talk show, the highest of any program. Meanwhile, ABC’s “General Hospital” took home the top prize for daytime drama (for the sixth year in a row), winning four in total — tied with CBS newcomer “Beyond the Gates,” which also won four in its first year of eligibility.
This year’s Daytime Emmys were a bittersweet moment for the now-canceled talk shows “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and “Sherri.” “Sherri” host Sherri Shepherd won for daytime talk host, while “Kelly Clarkson” (besides best daytime talk) also won for directing a daytime studio nonfiction series, hair/makeup, art direction/set decoration/scenic design and sound mixing/editing. Due to the eligibility window, both shows will still be eligible for the Daytime Emmys next year because they produced original episodes in 2026.
Among soap operas, “Beyond the Gates” broke out in its first year with four wins, including for lead actress in a drama (Tamara Tunie, winning her first-ever Emmy), emerging talent in a daytime drama series (for Ambyr Michelle), lighting director and hair/makeup.
“It’s the best throwback to the day ever,” said Tunie, who began working in the genre in 1987.
“General Hospital’s” four wins, besides the daytime drama, also included wins for the writing team and guest performer in a daytime drama (Jeff Kober, who also earned a Primetime Emmy nomination this year for “The Pitt,” a rare double nomination for both awards shows in the same year).
“The Young and the Restless” won three, including supporting actor in a drama winner Roger Howarth (“The Young and the Restless”), who made Daytime Emmy history for the longest win gap (it’s been 32 years since his last Daytime Emmy win). The show also won for supporting actress in a daytime drama (Beth Maitland).
In the newbie club, Star Jones won its first Daytime Emmy after 14 nominations – this time, in the daytime personality category – in the daily category, for “Divorce Court.”
The Daytime Emmys honor daytime drama, talk series, entertainment news, culinary, adventure, education and legal/judicial programs – and for the 53rd edition, which covers an eligibility schedule from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. This year’s Daytime Emmys nominations come after several rule changes were announced this spring.
“General Hospital” icon Genie Francis was honored this year for her lifetime achievement, presented by her husband, actor Jonathan Frakes. “The joy of doing this work has never left me,” she said. “I am very proud to be part of the cast of “General Hospital”. The caliber of this cast inspires me every day and keeps me humble.
Allen Media Group founder, chairman and CEO Byron Allen, host/executive producer Meredith Vieira, performer Patrika Darbo and actress/director/executive producer Francesca James are this year’s Gold Circle inductees, while Fox Television Stations executive vice president of programming and development Stephen Brown and announcer/warm-up host Rubin Ervin are inductees into the Silver Circle.
There is no host this year, but Matthew Hoffman served as announcer. Previously held in June, the Daytime Emmys were moved to mid-fall last year; the 2026 event took place on Friday in a single ceremony.
CBS led all media with eight wins for the network (its syndication arm CBS Media Ventures scored two additional). The now-defunct NBCUniversal syndication unit won five awards thanks to “Kelly Clarkson.”
Here’s how the network/distribution tally went: CBS 8; NBCU Syndication 5; ABC4; Ink stain 3
And the series total: “Kelly Clarkson” 5; “General Hospital” 4; “Beyond the Gates” 4; “The Young and the Restless” 3; “A Different Breed” 3
The show is being broadcast this year on YouTube; look here:
Here are this year’s winners:
Outstanding daytime drama series
- “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock (Corday Productions, Inc. | Sony Pictures Television))
- WINNER: “General Hospital” (ABC)
- “The Young and the Restless” (CBS (Sony Pictures Television))
Exceptional Daytime Lecture Series
- “3rd Hour Today” (NBC)
- “The Drew Barrymore Show” (CBS Media Ventures)
- WINNER: “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “Live with Kelly and Mark” (Disney Entertainment Distribution)
- “Today with Jenna and Friends” (NBC)
- “The View” (ABC)
Outstanding entertainment news series
- “Access Hollywood” (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- WINNER: “Entertainment Tonight” (CBS Media Ventures)
- “Extra” (Warner Bros. Television (Telepictures))
Exceptional culinary educational series
- “Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Cooking” (outdoor channel (intuitive content))
- WINNER: “Be My Guest with Ina Garten” (Food Network (Pacific Productions))
- “Delicious Miss Brown” (Food Network (FRANK.))
- “Magnolia Table: on the farm” (Magnolia Network (Blind Nil))
- “Pati’s Mexican Table” (PBS (Mexican Table LLC | Early Light Media))
Outstanding culinary cultural series
- “America The Bountiful” (PBS (Credo Nonfiction))
- “Best Food Review Show Ever” (Best Food Review Show Ever on YouTube)
- “Fork & Hammer” (American Public Television (Susie Films))
- WINNER: “Lucky Chow” (PBS (Lucky Rice))
- “Savour the City” (TV-One (Powerhouse Productions))
Legal series/exceptional audience
- “Taken by Providence” (Debmar-Mercury)
- “Divorce Court” (Fox)
- WINNER: “Justice for the People with Judge Milian” (Entertainment Studios)
- “Mathis Court with Judge Mathis” (Entertainment Studios)
Exceptional travel and adventure program
- “Unknown Expedition” (Discovery Channel (Ping Pong Productions))
- “Long Way Home” (Apple (Long Way Productions))
- “The pretty lemurs of Madagascar” (Pets.TV (Allen Media Group))
- WINNER: “Solo Journey with Tracee Ellis Ross” (Roku (Joy Mill Entertainment | Story Syndicate | Artists First))
- “Superskilled with Eva zu Beck” (National Geographic)
Exceptional educational/practical program
- “Ask This Old House” (PBS | Roku (This Old House Productions))
- “Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House” (Magnolia Network (Blind Nile))
- WINNER: “Hometown Takeover” (HGTV (RTR Media Inc.))
- “The Last Wright: Building the Final Design of America’s Greatest Architect’s Home” (Magnolia Network (One Traveler | All 3 Media | A | Miziker Entertainment))
- “This Old House” (PBS | Roku (This Old House Productions))
Exceptional Lifestyle Program
- WINNER: “A Different Breed” (InkBlot Narratives (Purina Films))
- “George to the Rescue” (NBC)
- “With Love, Meghan” (Netflix (Sony Pictures Television | Archewell Productions))
- “Motherhood” (Hallmark Channel | Hallmark+ (Scout Productions | Deep Blue Productions))
- “The Wizard of Paws” (BYUtv (Nomadica Films | The Dodo | Vox Media Studios))
Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program
- “Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood” (CBS Media Ventures)
- WINNER: “Off-script with The Hollywood Reporter” (The Hollywood Reporter (IFC))
- “Variety & CNN Actors on Actors » (CNN Digital | Variety)
- “Variety Studio: Actors on Actors” (PBS)
- “Working in the Theater” (AmericanTheatreWing.org)
Exceptional daytime special
- “Critics Choice 2nd Annual Celebration of LBGTQ+ Film and Television” (Here TV)
- “Magical Christmas Day Parade at the Disney Parks” (ABC (Disney Yellow Shoes Studios | Film 45 | EverWonder Studio))
- “Living Proof” (Hulu (The DIVA Foundation | Shivelight LLC | Zables & Associates))
- “Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade” (NBC | Peacock (Done & Dusted))
- WINNER: “Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children with Autism” (Hulu (NY27 Productions | Shivelight LLC | Zables & Associates))
Exceptional short day program
- “Catalyst” (LinkedIn News)
- WINNER: “Glam Through the Ages” (KeyTV Network)
- “Most ordered” (eater)
- “The Path with Ryan Roslansky” (LinkedIn News)
- “Get Up and Do Something with Michael Jr.” (BYUtv (Monument Pictures))
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
- Stacy Haiduk as Kristen DiMera, “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock (Corday Productions, Inc. | Sony Pictures Television))
- Karla Mosley as Dani Dupree, “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS (Sony Pictures Television))
- Heather Tom as Katie Logan, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS (Bell-Phillip TV Productions, Inc.))
- WINNER: Tamara Tunie as Anita Williams Dupree, “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
- Eric Braeden as Victor Newman, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS (Sony Pictures Television))
- Steve Burton as Jason Morgan, “General Hospital” (ABC)
- WINNER: Scott Clifton as Liam Spencer, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS (Bell-Phillip TV Productions, Inc.))
- Thorsten Kaye as Ridge Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS (Bell-Phillip TV Productions, Inc.))
- Christian Jules LeBlanc as Michael Baldwin, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS (Sony Pictures Television))
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
- Linsey Godfrey as Sarah Horton, “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock (Corday Productions, Inc. |…
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