Picture this: a legendary figure shattering a long-held record at the ripe old age of 99 – that's the thrilling highlight from the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards, where daytime television's biggest stars and most innovative shows took center stage. For those just tuning in, the Daytime Emmys celebrate excellence in daytime TV programming, from gripping soap operas and lively talk shows to educational series and specials. It's like the Oscars but for the daytime slot, honoring everything from drama performances to behind-the-scenes craftsmanship. But here's where it gets controversial... is there an age where someone should 'retire' from awards glory, or does wisdom always trump youth? Let's dive into the night that had everyone buzzing.
Leading the charge was the iconic soap opera General Hospital, which swept the ceremony with a whopping seven awards, cementing its status as a daytime dynasty. This ABC staple clinched the prestigious Outstanding Daytime Drama Series trophy and racked up wins in categories like Outstanding Drama Actress for Nancy Lee Grahn (portraying Alexis Davis) and Outstanding Supporting Drama Actor for Jonathan Jackson (as Lucky Spencer), plus accolades for writing and more. It's a testament to how long-running shows can keep delivering emotional depth that captivates audiences day after day.
And this is the part most people miss... Sir David Attenborough didn't just win; he broke a record set just a year prior by the legendary Dick Van Dyke. Van Dyke claimed his Emmy at 98, but Attenborough, at 99, became the oldest winner ever in the Outstanding Daytime Personality – Non-Daily category for his work on Secret Lives of Orangutans on Netflix. It's inspiring for aspiring talents of any age, showing that passion for storytelling never fades. But is this a sign of inclusivity, or does it spark debates about whether fresher voices deserve more spotlight? Food for thought as we explore the rest.
Other big names shone brightly too. The Secret Lives of Animals on Apple TV+ and The Drew Barrymore Show each grabbed three wins, highlighting the diversity of daytime fare – from nature documentaries to chatty interviews. ABC's Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade and Netflix's Black Barbie tied with two apiece, proving that specials and cultural explorations can steal the show just as effectively as daily dramas.
Drew Barrymore herself triumphed as Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host for her eponymous show, which was nominated a robust nine times. Meanwhile, the Outstanding Daytime Talk Series went to Live With Kelly and Mark, hosted by the dynamic duo Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. Paul Telfer marked his debut win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series, playing Xander Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives (Peacock). On the actress side, Grahn's victory for Alexis Davis stood out, but so did Susan Walters' win for Outstanding Supporting Actress as Diane Jenkins Abbott on The Young and the Restless (CBS), and Jackson's for his supporting role on General Hospital.
The event, held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California and streamed via The Emmys apps and website, was emceed by the energetic Mario Lopez. Deborah Norville received the Lifetime Achievement Award, a nod to her decades in daytime TV. Adding excitement were three brand-new categories: Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series, won by Lisa Yamada for her role as Luna Nozawa on The Bold and the Beautiful; Outstanding Culinary Cultural Series, claimed by Chasing Flavor with Carla Hall on HBO Max; and Outstanding Regional Content in a Daytime Genre, where createid | SARA: A Life in Dreams and Symbols on Idaho Public Television took home the inaugural prize.
A stellar lineup of presenters kept the energy high, including Brad Bestelink, Kardea Brown, Alexa Havins Bruening, Scott Clifton, Olivia d’Abo, Dan Feuerriegel, Rory Gibson, Carla Hall, Deidre Hall, Cherie Jimenez, Judge Lauren Lake, Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson, Ross Mathews, Michael Mealor, Karla Mosley, Joseph Rosendo, Michelle Stafford, and Lisa Yamada herself.
Even the press got in on the fun – The Hollywood Reporter earned a nomination for Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program with their Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter series on IFC, though they didn't win this time.
To give you the full picture, here's the comprehensive rundown of winners and nominees from that memorable night:
Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
- Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- General Hospital (ABC) – WINNER
- The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series
- The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures)
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (Warner Brothers Television Distribution)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- Live With Kelly and Mark (Disney Entertainment Distribution) – WINNER
- The View (ABC)
Outstanding Entertainment News Series
- Access Hollywood (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- E! News (E! Entertainment)
- Entertainment Tonight (CBS Media Ventures) – WINNER
- Extra (Warner Brothers Television Distribution)
Outstanding Culinary Instructional Series
- Be My Guest with Ina Garten (Food Network)
- Delicious Miss Brown (Food Network) – WINNER
- Emeril Cooks (Roku)
- Lidia’s Kitchen (PBS)
- Selena + Restaurant (Food Network)
Outstanding Culinary Cultural Series
- BBQ High (Magnolia Network)
- Chasing Flavor with Carla Hall (HBO | Max) – WINNER
- Ingrediente: Mexico (Amazon Prime Video)
- TrueSouth (ESPN | ABC | SEC Network)
Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program
- America’s Court with Judge Kevin Ross (Entertainment Studios)
- Divorce Court (FOX)
- Hot Bench (CBS Media Ventures) – WINNER
- Judy Justice (Amazon Prime Video)
- Justice for the People With Judge Milian (Entertainment Studios)
- We The People with Judge Lauren Lake (Entertainment Studios)
Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program
- Expedition Unknown (Discovery Channel) – WINNER
- Field Trip with Curtis Stone Hong Kong (PBS)
- The Good Road (PBS)
- How I Got Here (BYUtv)
- Joseph Rosendo’s Steppin’ Out (PBS)
- Mexico Made With Love (PBS)
Outstanding Science and Nature Program
- Living with Leopards (Netflix)
- National Parks: USA (National Geographic)
- The Secret Lives of Animals (Apple TV+) – WINNER
- Secret Lives of Orangutans (Netflix)
- Secrets of the Neanderthals (Netflix)
Outstanding Instructional/How-To Program
- Dime Como Hacerlo (Roku)
- The Fixers (BYUtv)
- Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse (Magnolia Network) – WINNER
- Going Home with Tyler Cameron (Amazon Prime Video)
- Married to Real Estate (HGTV)
- Martha Gardens (Roku)
Outstanding Lifestyle Program
- George to the Rescue (NBC)
- Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut (Netflix)
- Harlem Globetrotters: Play It Forward (NBC)
- Homegrown (Magnolia Network)
- You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment (Netflix) – WINNER
Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program
- Black Barbie (Netflix) – WINNER
- Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (PBS)
- Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter (IFC)
- The Swift Effect (Peacock)
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (PBS)
Outstanding Daytime Special
- Bob Newhart: A Legacy of Laughter, An “Entertainment Tonight” Special (CBS)
- Dinner Party Diaries with José Andrés (Amazon Prime Video)
- Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (ABC) – WINNER
- 98th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC)
- Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers (PBS)
Outstanding Short Form Program
- Ballin’ Out (Outsports) – WINNER
- Billboard Presents (Billboard.com)
- Catalyst (LinkedIn News)
- Eat This With Yara, “The Chef Preserving Gaza’s Cuisine Amid a Genocide” (AJ+)
- Live Like A Champion (Healthline)
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
- Sharon Case as Sharon Newman, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Eileen Davidson as Ashley Abbott, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Melissa Claire Egan as Chelsea Lawson, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Davis, General Hospital (ABC) – WINNER
- Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Laura Wright as Carly Spencer, General Hospital (ABC)
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
- Peter Bergman as Jack Abbott, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Eric Martsolf as Brady Black, Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- Greg Rikaart as Leo Stark, Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- Paul Telfer as Xander Kiriakis, Days of Our Lives (Peacock) – WINNER
- Dominic Zamprogna as Dante Falconeri, General Hospital (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
- Linsey Godfrey as Sarah Horton, Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- Courtney Hope as Sally Spectra, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Kate Mansi as Kristina Corinthos Davis, General Hospital (ABC)
- Emily O’Brien as Theresa Donovan, Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- Susan Walters as Diane Jenkins Abbott, The Young and the Restless (CBS) – WINNER
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
- Tajh Bellow as TJ Ashford, General Hospital (ABC)
- Blake Berris as Everett Lynch, Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- Michael Graziadei as Daniel Romalotti, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Gregory Harrison as Gregory Chase, General Hospital (ABC)
- Jonathan Jackson as Lucky Spencer, General Hospital (ABC) – WINNER
Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series
- Olivia d’Abo as Fifi Garrett, The Bay (Popstar! TV)
- AnnaLynne McCord as Cat Greene, Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- Ashley Puzemis as Holly Jonas, Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- Christian Weissmann as Remy Pryce, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
- Lisa Yamada as Luna Nozawa, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS) – WINNER
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
- Linden Ashby as Cameron Kirsten, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Clint Howard as Tom Starr, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
- Jacqueline Lopez as Blaze, General Hospital (ABC)
- Alley Mills as Heather Webber, General Hospital (ABC) – WINNER
- Valarie Pettiford as Amy Lewis, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Avery Kristen Pohl as Esme Prince, General Hospital (ABC)
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host
- Drew Barrymore, The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures) – WINNER
- Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda Kotb, TODAY with Hoda and Jenna (NBC)
- Kelly Clarkson, The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- Mark Consuelos, Kelly Ripa, Live With Kelly and Mark (Disney Entertainment Distribution)
- Jennifer Hudson, The Jennifer Hudson Show (Warner Brothers Television Distribution)
Outstanding Culinary Host
- Kardea Brown, Delicious Miss Brown (Food Network) – WINNER
- Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines (Magnolia Network)
- Ina Garten, Be My Guest with Ina Garten (Food Network)
- Emeril Lagasse, Emeril Cooks (Roku)
- Michael Symon, Symon’s Dinners Cooking Out (Food Network)
Outstanding Daytime Personality – Daily
- Cassie DiLaura, Denny Directo, Kevin Frazier, Rachel Smith & Nischelle Turner, Entertainment Tonight (CBS Media Ventures) – WINNER
- Scott Evans, Zuri Hall, Kit Hoover & Mario Lopez, Access Hollywood (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- Star Jones, Corey Jovan, Divorce Court (FOX)
- Whitney Kumar, Kevin Rasco, Sarah Rose & Judge Judy Sheindlin, Judy Justice (Amazon Prime Video)
Outstanding Daytime Personality – Non-Daily
- Sir David Attenborough, Secret Lives of Orangutans (Netflix) – WINNER
- Brad Bestelink, Living with Leopards (Netflix)
- Andi Sweeney Blanco, Courtney Dober, Rob North & Kirin Stone, The Fixers (BYUtv)
- Anthony Mackie, Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast (National Geographic)
- Martha Stewart, Martha Gardens (Roku)
Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
- Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- General Hospital (ABC) – WINNER
- The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Non-Fiction Program
- Black Barbie (Netflix) – WINNER
- Modern Pioneering with Georgia Pellegrini (PBS)
- National Parks: USA (National Geographic)
- Secret Lives of Orangutans (Netflix)
- Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers (PBS)
Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
- Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- General Hospital (ABC) – WINNER
- The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Directing Team for a Single Camera Daytime Non-Fiction Program
- Living with Leopards (Netflix)
- Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild (NBC)
- The Secret Lives of Animals (Apple TV+)
- Secret Lives of Orangutans (Netflix) – WINNER
- Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast (National Geographic)
Outstanding Directing Team for a Multiple Camera Daytime Non-Fiction Program
- Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (ABC)
- The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures) – WINNER
- The Good Road (PBS)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- The Wizard of Paws (BYUtv)
Outstanding Music Direction and Composition
- Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors (Netflix)
- National Parks: USA (National Geographic)
- The Secret Lives of Animals (Apple TV+)
- Secret Lives of Orangutans (Netflix) – WINNER
- Secrets of the Neanderthals (Netflix)
Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video
- Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (ABC) – WINNER
- The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures)
- Neighbours (Amazon Prime Video)
- The View (ABC)
- The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Cinematography
- Living with Leopards (Netflix)
- Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors (Netflix)
- National Parks: USA (National Geographic) – WINNER
- The Secret Lives of Animals (Apple TV+)
- Secret Lives of Orangutans (Netflix)
Outstanding Single Camera Editing
- Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut (Netflix)
- Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors (Netflix)
- The Secret Lives of Animals (Apple TV+) – WINNER
- Secret Lives of Orangutans (Netflix)
- Secrets of the Neanderthals (Netflix)
Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing
- Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (ABC)
- The Fixers (BYUtv)
- How I Got Here (BYUtv)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- Resurrected Rides (Netflix) – WINNER
Outstanding Live Sound Mixing and Sound Editing
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios) – WINNER
- The Talk (CBS)
- The View (ABC)
- The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing
- Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut (Netflix)
- Joseph Rosendo’s Steppin’ Out (PBS)
- Living with Leopards (Netflix)
- National Parks: USA (National Geographic)
- The Secret Lives of Animals (Apple TV+) – WINNER
- Secret Lives of Orangutans (Netflix)
- Secrets of the Neanderthals (Netflix)
Outstanding Lighting Direction
- Days of Our Lives (Peacock)
- The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios) – WINNER
- The View (ABC)
- The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design
- Car Masters: Rust to Riches (Netflix)
- The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures)
- Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut (Netflix) – WINNER
- Reconnecting Roots (PBS)
- Tex Mex Motors (Netflix)
Outstanding Casting
- Days of Our Lives (Peacock) – WINNER
- General Hospital (ABC)
- Making Good (BYUtv)
- Start Up (PBS)
- The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design
- The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- Live With Kelly and Mark (Disney Entertainment Distribution)
- Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors (Netflix) – WINNER
- The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Costume Design/Styling
- The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures)
- General Hospital (ABC) – WINNER
- Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors (Netflix)
- Sherri (Debmar-Mercury)
- The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup
- The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
- The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures) – WINNER
- General Hospital (ABC)
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (Warner Brothers Television Distribution)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- Secrets of the Neanderthals (Netflix)
- Sherri (Debmar-Mercury)
Outstanding Regional Content in a Daytime Genre
- Chicagoland’s Best Bites (WMAQ-TV)
- createid | SARA: A Life in Dreams and Symbols (Idaho Public Television) – WINNER
- Danzando para Sanar (WWDT-TV)
- Hidden Homicide (WGN-TV)
- Relish (Twin Cities PBS)
What a night of recognition for daytime TV's unsung heroes! It makes you wonder: should daytime programming get more mainstream love, or does its niche appeal make these awards even more special? And circling back to that record-breaker – is age truly just a number in entertainment, or could it unintentionally sideline younger talent? Do you agree that experience like Attenborough's is invaluable, or do you think it's time for fresh perspectives? Share your opinions below – let's keep the conversation going!
