Y&R Stars React! 18 Emmy Nods, Broken Trophies, & Eric Braeden Big Rivalry

Genoa City Dominates: Inside the Buzz and Behind-the-Scenes Reactions to Y&R’s 18 Daytime Emmy Nominations

Genoa City is absolutely sweeping the 2026 Daytime Emmy nominations, securing a staggering 18 nods across the board. From the meticulous work of the makeup department to the stellar performances of its leading legends, The Young and the Restless (Y&R) is once again proving why it remains an absolute powerhouse of daytime television. However, the real excitement isn’t just in the numbers—it’s in how the stars themselves reacted to the big news.

Leading the charge is “The Mustache” himself, Eric Braeden, who is celebrating his 11th nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor. At 85 years old, Braeden admitted that this recognition means everything to him. Despite his past feelings that the awards were merely a popularity contest, he was persuaded by a colleague to start submitting his work again after a long hiatus.

This year, he finds himself in a friendly battle with co-star Christian LeBlanc. Remarkably, both actors submitted the exact same powerhouse scene where Victor Newman fires Michael Baldwin. Braeden even joked about what he would do if LeBlanc takes home the trophy: “Tell him I won’t allow it and fire him again so he doesn’t get paid.”

While Braeden was bracing for competition, Cameron Grimes revealed that her nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress came completely out of left field. When the show’s publicist called her at the crack of dawn, she didn’t think about the Emmys at all. Instead, she assumed he was finally giving her the green light for a tattoo approval she had emailed about the day before. Grimes, who previously won in 2020, admitted she didn’t even consider herself in contention this year.

Her submitted reel featured intense, emotional scenes of Mariah’s struggle with PTSD. Now, she is bracing for a wild weekend, as the Emmy ceremony falls on October 30, right before Halloween. She is currently juggling Emmy preparations with organizing her two-year-old son’s costume.

Meanwhile, Roger Howarth landed his first Emmy nod in 21 years for his portrayal of the villainous Matt Clark. Howarth was sitting in the hair and makeup chair when he found out. After three decades in the industry, he expressed that he is just happy to be “above ground” and still in consideration.

Howarth famously won an Emmy back in 1994 for his iconic role as Todd Manning on One Life to Live, but he humorously revealed that his original trophy is currently held together with blue painter’s tape because one of the wings broke off. To prepare for the upcoming ceremony, Howarth is already planning his acceptance speech, admitting he isn’t great at thinking on his feet.

Finally, Michael Graziadei received a 9:00 AM wake-up call that left him in total shock. To secure his Supporting Actor nomination, he submitted a unique reel that perfectly showcased his acting range. The footage spanned everything from Daniel Romalotti talking to his dead wife in a park to a highly humorous scene where his character is nursing a massive hangover. Graziadei didn’t waste any time celebrating; he headed straight out with castmate Sean Dominic to watch a soccer game and toast to their joint success.

With so many Y&R stars competing against one another, the energy on set has been electric, with everyone from the props department to the wardrobe team joining the celebration. Whether it’s Braeden’s legendary status or Howarth’s broken trophy, the road to October 30 is going to be one wild ride for the fans.