| 100% | CAROLEKING | 10 | Frequent collaborator of 42-Across who wrote the song "You've Got a Friend" as a response to 18-Across (2 wds.) |
| 51% | CAROLEKING | 10 | "You've Got a Friend" singer/pianist who was the first woman to win a Grammy for Song of the Year (2 wds.) |
| 43% | CARLYSIMON | 10 | Frequent collaborator of 42-Across who has said her song "You're So Vain" is not about him (2 wds.) |
| 39% | JOHNLEGEND | 10 | "All of Me" singer who wrote a song in "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical": 2 wds. |
| 39% | INVENTINGANNA | 13 | Shonda Rhimes miniseries starring 18-Across and 42-Across based on the true story of a con artist who pretended to be an heiress (2 wds.) |
| 37% | JAMESTAYLOR | 11 | Ex-husband of Carly Simon who won a Grammy for "You've Got a Friend": 2 wds. |
| 37% | KARYNPARSONS | 12 | Actress who played the snobbish cousin of 17-Across in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," which is rumored to be getting a reunion: 2 wds. |
| 37% | INME | 4 | "You've Got a Friend ___" ("Toy Story" song): 2 wds. |
| 36% | MARYSHELLEY | 11 | Author who began writing 28-Across at the age of 18: 2 wds. |
| 36% | WOODY | 5 | Buzz Lightyear's best friend in "Toy Story" who features in the song "You've Got a Friend in Me" |
| 36% | PROUDMARY | 9 | Girl in a Tina Turner song from the soundtrack of "What's Love Got to Do with It": 2 wds. |
| 36% | EDSHEERAN | 9 | "Shape of You" pop singer who had 13 songs on the Hot 100 during a week in 2017: 2 wds. |
| 36% | JAMESTAYLOR | 11 | Singer who performed Carole King's "You've Got a Friend": 2 wds. |
| 36% | PINBALLWIZARD | 13 | "Tommy" song sung by 47-Across that's the only cover of a Who song to reach the Top 10 (2 wds.) |
| 36% | JOSEPHCOTTEN | 12 | Actor who played a reporter and friend of the title character in 17-Across: 2 wds. |
| 36% | STILLFALLING | 12 | "___ for You," 2016 song by Ellie Goulding which is a part of the soundtrack to the film "Bridget Jones's Baby": 2 wds. |
| 35% | ROBREINER | 9 | Director of 33-Across who will write a foreword for the book by 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 35% | ROALDAMUNDSEN | 13 | Norwegian explorer who in 1911 became the first person to reach the South Pole, one month ahead of 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 35% | PATTONOSWALT | 12 | "The King of Queens" actor who narrates 18-Across as the present-day adult Adam: 2 wds. |
| 35% | NANCYREAGAN | 11 | First Lady of the United States (1981-1989) who wrote "To Love a Child": 2 wds. |
| 34% | ISAWTHELIGHT | 12 | Biopic about 18-Across, and the title of a classic gospel song he wrote: 4 wds. |
| 34% | HEYYOU | 6 | Words to get the attention of a stranger: 2 wds. |
| 34% | LADYANTEBELLUM | 14 | "American Honey" group who wrote a song in "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical": 2 wds. |
| 34% | CHUCKBARRIS | 11 | TV program creator and host who wrote the memoir "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind": 2 wds. |
| 34% | AIROUT | 6 | Open a window to get rid of the odors inside: 2 wds. |
| 34% | STEPHENCHBOSKY | 14 | Author who wrote the film adaptation of his own "The Perks of Being a Wallflower": 2 wds. |
| 33% | SKILIFTS | 8 | Conveyances that get people to the top of a snowy mountain: 2 wds. |
| 33% | BILLYCRYSTAL | 12 | "When Harry Met Sally" actor who got to the top of "The $20,000 Pyramid" in a record 26 seconds (2 wds.) |
| 33% | CRYSTALBALL | 11 | Nickname of the championship trophy awarded to 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 33% | BINGCROSBY | 10 | Crooner who sings "I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For" in the Thanksgiving scene of 17-Across (2 wds.) |