| 100% | RALPHELLISON | 12 | 14-Across and 28-Across novelist who was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1985 (2 wds.) |
| 72% | RALPHELLISON | 12 | African-American writer of 14-Across and 28-Across awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1985 (2 wds.) |
| 62% | RUBYDEE | 7 | Actress and activist who was awarded the National Medal of Arts, along with her husband, in 1995 |
| 61% | BEVERLYSILLS | 12 | Opera singer who chaired Lincoln Center and received the National Medal of Arts in 1990: 2 wds. |
| 60% | MARILYNHORNE | 12 | Opera singer who performed at Clinton's 1993 inauguration and received the National Medal of Arts in 1992: 2 wds. |
| 59% | BARACKOBAMA | 11 | U.S. President who awarded Rita Moreno the National Medal of Arts in 2009 (2 wds.) |
| 57% | ITZHAKPERLMAN | 13 | Tel Aviv-born violinist who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015: 2 wds. |
| 56% | JASPERJOHNS | 11 | "Three Flags" painter who received the National Medal of Arts in 1990: 2 wds. |
| 56% | ANDREWWYETH | 11 | "Christina's World" painter who received the National Medal of Arts in 2007: 2 wds. |
| 56% | JEANKING | 8 | Billie ___, former World No. 1 professional tennis player who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009: 2 wds. |
| 55% | SOLANGEKNOWLES | 14 | 12-Across and 28-Across singer who was the first recipient of the "Billboard" Women in Music Impact Award (2 wds.) |
| 54% | JOHNLEWIS | 9 | Politician and civil rights leader who was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 2002: 2 wds. |
| 54% | BILLCOSBY | 9 | Comedian who was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1985: 2 wds. |
| 53% | JONASSALK | 9 | Virologist who developed the first successful polio vaccine and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Jimmy Carter in 1977 (2 wds.) |
| 52% | RENEEFLEMING | 12 | Opera singer who sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl in 2014 and received the National Medal of Arts in 2012: 2 wds. |
| 51% | MIAWASIKOWSKA | 13 | Actress who played the daughter of 14- and 32-Across in "The Kids Are All Right": 2 wds. |
| 50% | MARVINGAYE | 10 | 14-Across and 45-Across singer who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 (2 wds.) |
| 50% | JOHNUPDIKE | 10 | "Rabbit, Run" author who received the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal in 2007: 2 wds. |
| 49% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | "Beloved" author who received the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal in 2019: 2 wds. |
| 49% | ROSAPARKS | 9 | Civil rights leader who was awarded the NAACP's Spingarn Medal in 1979: 2 wds. |
| 49% | ANTHONYFAUCI | 12 | Medical advisor to every president since Ronald Reagan who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2008 (2 wds.) |
| 48% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | "Beloved" novelist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in the year 1993: 2 wds. |
| 48% | CAROLBURNETT | 12 | Comedian and variety show host who was awarded the Mark Twain Prize in 2013: 2 wds. |
| 48% | LENAHORNE | 9 | Jazz singer who was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1983: 2 wds. |
| 48% | CAROLBURNETT | 12 | Actress and comedian who was awarded the 44-Across in 2013 (2 wds.) |
| 48% | ISABELALLENDE | 13 | Chilean-American writer who was awarded the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2 wds. |
| 47% | KAZUOISHIGURO | 13 | British novelist who wrote 19-Across and 31-Across and was awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |
| 47% | CEVERETTKOOP | 12 | Former U.S. Surgeon General who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bill Clinton in 1995 (3 wds.) |
| 47% | REGGIEMILLER | 12 | Shaquille and ___ were the only two players in both the gold medal-winning national teams of 1994 and 1996: 2 wds. |
| 47% | BARACKOBAMA | 11 | 44th President of the U.S. who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009: 2 wds. |