Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Music-related films, limited series, specials and documentaries are well-represented in the 2023 Emmy nominations — including projects like “Daisy Jones & the Six” that were shut out by the music branch in actual music categories but did just fine just about everywhere else.
Actors playing famous musicians fared well. Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain, who portrayed George Jones and Tammy Wynette in “George & Tammy,” were nominated for best lead actor and actress in a limited series or movie.
Also up in those categories, respectively, are Danielle Radcliffe, for his comic turn in the satirical title role of “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” and Riley Keough for her more serious take as a fictional singer-songwriter in “Daisy Jones.” Two projects about or led by music stars are competing for outstanding television movie: the aforementioned “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” and its tonal opposite, “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.” Among the music specials that got some love were Disney+’s “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium” and Fox’s “The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna,” both of which are nominated for outstanding variety special (live), and HBO Max’s “Lizzo: Live in Concert,” up for outstanding variety special (pre-recorded).
The Rihanna halftime presentation is also nominated for three other awards — outstanding music direction, directing for a variety special and production design for a variety special.
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