Daytime Emmys 2025: Full Winners List, Highlights & Surprises! (2025)

The Daytime Emmys 2025: A Night of Surprises, History, and Controversy

The 52nd Daytime Emmys, held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and hosted by Mario Lopez, was a night to remember. But here's where it gets controversial: while ABC's 'General Hospital' swept the awards with seven wins, including Outstanding Drama Series, the real talk of the night was Netflix's 'Secret Lives of Orangutans' and its 99-year-old narrator, Sir David Attenborough, who became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner ever. And this is the part most people miss: the show also marked a significant shift in broadcasting, as it was the first year in a while that the Daytime Emmys didn’t air on CBS, instead being available on NATAS’ The Emmys app and watch.theemmys.tv.

'General Hospital' dominated with wins for lead actress Nancy Lee Grahn, supporting actor Jonathan Jackson, writing team, directing, costume design/styling, and guest performer Alley Mills. But the night wasn’t just about soap operas. Apple TV+’s 'The Secret Lives of Animals' and Netflix’s 'Secret Lives of Orangutans' each took home three Emmys, with the latter making history not just for Attenborough’s win but also for its directing team in a single-camera daytime non-fiction program.

Among other multiple winners, CBS Media Ventures’ 'The Drew Barrymore Show' and 'Entertainment Tonight' shone, while Peacock’s 'Days of Our Lives' and Food Network’s 'The Delicious Miss Brown' also secured two wins each. ABC’s 'Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade' and 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' were among the specials and talk shows that grabbed big prizes.

This year’s ceremony introduced new categories like Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Program, won by 'The Bold and the Beautiful’s' Lisa Yamada. The Culinary Series category was split into Instructional and Cultural Series, and the Travel, Nature, and Adventure category was divided into Travel and Adventure and Nature and Science Programs. These changes reflect the evolving landscape of daytime television.

But what’s truly thought-provoking is the role of AI in the industry. Jodi Long, president of the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles local chapter, reminded the audience, 'Only humans can win an acting award!' This statement raises questions about the future of acting and storytelling in an increasingly digital world. What do you think? Is AI a threat to human creativity, or can it enhance it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Here’s a detailed look at the winners:

Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
- WINNER: 'General Hospital' (ABC)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
- WINNER: Paul Telfer, 'Days of our Lives' (Peacock)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
- WINNER: Nancy Lee Grahn, 'General Hospital' (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
- WINNER: Susan Walters, 'The Young and the Restless' (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
- WINNER: Jonathan Jackson, 'General Hospital' (ABC)

Outstanding Daytime Talk Series
- WINNER: 'Live with Kelly and Mark' (Disney Entertainment Distribution)

Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host
- WINNER: Drew Barrymore, 'The Drew Barrymore Show' (CBS Media Ventures)

Outstanding Culinary Host
- WINNER: Kardea Brown, 'Delicious Miss Brown' (Food Network)

Outstanding Daytime Personality – Daily
- WINNER: Cassie DiLaura, Denny Directo, Kevin Frazier, Rachel Smith & Nischelle Turner, 'Entertainment Tonight' (CBS Media Ventures)

Outstanding Daytime Personality – Non-Daily
- WINNER: Sir David Attenborough, 'Secret Lives of Orangutans' (Netflix)

Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
- WINNER: 'General Hospital' (ABC)

Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Non-Fiction Program
- WINNER: 'Black Barbie' (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
- WINNER: 'General Hospital' (ABC)

Outstanding Directing Team for a Single Camera Daytime Non-Fiction Program
- WINNER: 'Secret Lives of Orangutans' (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing Team for a Multiple Camera Daytime Non-Fiction Program
- WINNER: 'The Drew Barrymore Show' (CBS Media Ventures)

Outstanding Music Direction and Composition
- WINNER: 'Secret Lives of Orangutans' (Netflix)

Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video
- WINNER: 'Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade' (ABC)

Outstanding Cinematography
- WINNER: 'National Parks: USA' (National Geographic)

Outstanding Single Camera Editing
- WINNER: 'The Secret Lives of Animals' (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing
- WINNER: 'Resurrected Rides' (Netflix)

Outstanding Live Sound Mixing and Sound Editing
- WINNER: 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)

Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing
- WINNER: 'The Secret Lives of Animals' (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Lighting Direction
- WINNER: 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)

Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design
- WINNER: 'Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut' (Netflix)

Outstanding Casting
- WINNER: 'Days of our Lives' (Peacock)

Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design
- WINNER: 'Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors' (Netflix)

Outstanding Costume Design/Styling
- WINNER: 'General Hospital' (ABC)

Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup
- WINNER: 'The Drew Barrymore Show' (CBS Media Ventures)

Outstanding Short Form Program
- WINNER: 'Ballin’ Out' (Outsports)

Outstanding Regional Content in a Daytime Genre
- WINNER: 'createid | SARA: A Life in Dreams and Symbols' (Idaho Public Television)

Daytime Emmys 2025: Full Winners List, Highlights & Surprises! (2025)

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