Look, if you think Taraji P. Henson is just another actress with a few statues on her mantel, you’re missing the entire point of her career. Honestly, it’s kind of wild when you look at the raw numbers. We’re talking about a woman who has been the backbone of Hollywood for over two decades, yet her relationship with major award bodies is... well, it’s complicated.
She wins. A lot. But the "Big Four" (the EGOT path) hasn’t always been kind to her, despite her basically carrying every scene she’s ever in.
People always bring up Empire. And yeah, Cookie Lyon was a cultural earthquake. But did you know Taraji was already an Academy Award nominee years before she ever uttered a line about "the streets" or "Lucious"? Most fans forget that 2009 was actually the year she proved she could stand toe-to-toe with Brad Pitt and come out on top.
The Academy Award and That "Queenie" Energy
Let’s talk about 2009. The 81st Academy Awards. Taraji P. Henson was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for playing Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
It was a heavy role. She played a woman who finds a baby that looks like a 90-year-old man and decides to love him anyway. You’ve got to have some serious range to make that believable. While she didn't take the Oscar home that night—it went to Penélope Cruz—that nomination changed the math for her career. It told the industry she wasn't just "the girl from Baby Boy" or the pregnant prostitute from Hustle & Flow.
Speaking of Hustle & Flow, that’s where the "industry veteran" energy really started. She didn't get an acting Oscar nod for it, but she literally sang "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" on the Oscar stage. Then the song won. Think about that: Taraji is technically part of Oscar history in a way most "serious" actors never will be.
The Golden Globes and the Empire Era
If the Oscars were the "introduction," the Golden Globes were the coronation. In 2016, Taraji P. Henson finally grabbed that Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.
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The scene was legendary. She passed out cookies to the audience on her way to the stage. It was pure Taraji.
"Cookies for everyone tonight! My treat!"
That win for Empire was a big deal. She became only the third Black woman to ever win in that category, following Gail Fisher and Regina Taylor. It felt like the world was finally catching up to what Black audiences had known since 2001: Taraji doesn't miss.
But here is where the taraji p henson awards conversation gets a bit frustrating for fans. She was nominated for three Primetime Emmys for Cookie Lyon. She never won. Not once. How you play a character that defines a decade of television and come up empty-handed at the Emmys is something most of us are still trying to figure out.
The Emmy Mystery
By 2026, her Emmy tally has grown, but that elusive "Lead Actress" win remains a talking point. Her nominations include:
- 2011: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie (Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story)
- 2015 & 2016: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Empire)
- 2023: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Abbott Elementary)
She recently added a 2025 nomination for Fight Night, showing that whether it’s network TV or streaming, the Academy knows she's there—they just haven't pulled the trigger on the trophy yet.
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NAACP Image Awards: The True Home Court
If you want to see where Taraji is truly respected, look at the NAACP Image Awards. It’s not even a competition; it’s a residency.
As of early 2026, she has racked up nearly a dozen wins. We’re talking about Entertainer of the Year (2015), multiple wins for Empire, and a massive double-win in 2025. Last year, she didn't just win for her acting in The Color Purple; she won for her children’s book, You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!).
It’s actually sort of hilarious. She’s winning for books while also winning for playing Shug Avery. That’s range.
Why the SAG Win for Hidden Figures Matters Most
People love to debate individual awards, but in Hollywood, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast" is the one that proves you can lead a team.
In 2017, Hidden Figures won this. Taraji played Katherine Johnson, the NASA mathematician. This wasn't a "Cookie Lyon" performance. There were no furs, no attitude, no "Bye, Felicia." It was quiet, mathematical brilliance.
When that cast won, it felt like a correction. It proved Taraji could carry a $230 million box office hit based on brainpower alone. She’s won Critics' Choice Awards and BET Awards (she actually holds the record for most BET Best Actress wins with six), but that SAG win is the one that resides in the "prestige" category of her resume.
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What Most People Miss: The Tony and The Walk of Fame
You can't talk about her accolades without mentioning her 2019 Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s located at 6240 Hollywood Blvd. If you’re ever in LA, go see it. It was a moment where she broke down in tears, talking about her father, Boris.
And then there's the Tony.
Taraji hasn't won a Tony for acting yet, but she was nominated as a producer. Most people don't realize she’s been moving into the "power player" space. She isn't just waiting for roles anymore; she's creating them.
A Quick Breakdown of the Big Wins:
- Golden Globe: Best Actress (Empire, 2016)
- SAG Award: Outstanding Cast (Hidden Figures, 2017)
- Critics' Choice: Best Actress in a Drama Series (Empire, 2015)
- NAACP Image Awards: 10+ wins across Film, TV, and Literature.
- BET Awards: 6 wins (The standing record holder for Best Actress).
The 2024-2025 Renaissance
The last two years have been a "second act" for her trophy case. Her role as Shug Avery in The Color Purple (2023) reignited the conversation. While the Oscars snubbed her for a second nomination—which caused a massive stir online regarding how veteran Black actresses are treated and paid—she swept the specialized awards.
She took home the NAACP Image Award for it and was nominated for a BAFTA and a SAG.
Then came 2025. Between her work on Fight Night and her burgeoning career as an author, Taraji has basically moved past the need for "validation" from the traditional gatekeepers. She’s creating her own lane.
Actionable Insights: How to Track Her Legacy
If you’re a fan or a student of film history, don't just look at who won the Oscar in a given year. Look at the "Taraji Effect."
- Watch the "Snub" Years: Compare her performance in Empire (2015) to who actually won the Emmy. It's a masterclass in how cultural impact doesn't always translate to hardware.
- Follow the Production Credits: If you want to see where she’s heading, watch her "TPH Productions" credits. That’s where her next "awards" will likely come from—as a creator.
- Check the NAACP Archives: To understand her full range, look at her wins for Taken from Me or No Good Deed. These are smaller projects that show her technical skill away from the big blockbusters.
Taraji P. Henson’s awards aren’t just about gold-plated statues. They are a record of a woman who refused to be told "no" until the world had no choice but to say "yes." She’s currently filming Straw, and the buzz for the 2026 awards season is already starting. Don't be surprised if she adds a few more to the list before the year is out.
Next Steps for the Superfan:
Check out her memoir, Around the Way Girl. It doesn't just talk about the wins; it talks about the 20 years of "almosts" that came before the first big trophy. It's the best way to understand why every time she hits a stage, she looks like she's winning for the first time.