| 100% | LANGSTONHUGHES | 14 | Jazz poetry pioneer and Harlem Renaissance leader who wrote 4-Down and 13-Down (2 wds.) |
| 35% | ETHELWATERS | 11 | Harlem Renaissance singer and actress who was the first African American to star in her own TV show: 2 wds. |
| 34% | LARRYMCMURTRY | 13 | Award-winning novelist and screenwriter who wrote 7-Down and 12-Down (2 wds.) |
| 34% | NATESILVER | 10 | 2012 presidential election forecaster who wrote "The Signal and the Noise": 2 wds. |
| 33% | LEONARDCOHEN | 12 | "Hallelujah" singer-songwriter who wrote "Book of Longing," a book of poetry and drawings (2 wds.) |
| 33% | PATTISMITH | 10 | "Because the Night" singer-songwriter who wrote "Babel," a book of poetry and drawings (2 wds.) |
| 33% | HOWARDSTERN | 11 | Radio personality who wrote 13-Across, 23-Across, and a 2019 bestselling autobiography (2 wds.) |
| 33% | DONDELILLO | 10 | Author of "Libra" and "Mao II" who wrote 18-, 26-, and 35-Across: 2 wds. |
| 33% | AMYPOEHLER | 10 | "Parks and Recreation" actress who wrote the 2014 memoir "Yes Please": 2 wds. |
| 33% | AUGUSTWILSON | 12 | Playwright of the month who wrote "Fences" and "The Piano Lesson": 2 wds. |
| 33% | AMYSCHUMER | 10 | Sketch comedy performer who wrote and stars in 41-Across: 2 wds. |
| 33% | HAROLDRAMIS | 11 | Former "SCTV" performer who wrote, produced, and directed "Groundhog Day": 2 wds. |
| 32% | DUKEELLINGTON | 13 | Jazz pianist and bandleader who composed "Sophisticated Lady": 2 wds. |
| 32% | BESSIESMITH | 11 | Harlem Renaissance singer who starred in the 1929 short film "St. Louis Blues": 2 wds. |
| 32% | CHARLIEPARKER | 13 | Jazz saxophonist who composed and played "Moose the Mooche": 2 wds. |
| 32% | WINESNOB | 8 | Person who looks down on boxed merlots and zinfandels: 2 wds. |
| 32% | SARABAREILLES | 13 | "Love Song" singer who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical "Waitress": 2 wds. |
| 32% | WILLROGERS | 10 | Oklahoma wit who wrote "A fool and his money are soon elected": 2 wds. |
| 32% | CHUCKMANGIONE | 13 | Jazz flugelhorn player who composed and played "Feels So Good": 2 wds. |
| 32% | CHARLESMINGUS | 13 | Jazz bassist who composed and played "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat": 2 wds. |
| 32% | NEILGAIMAN | 10 | Fantasy novelist who wrote "American Gods" and "The Graveyard Book": 2 wds. |
| 32% | AMYPOEHLER | 10 | "Parks and Recreation" actress who wrote the memoir "Yes Please": 2 wds. |
| 32% | CURTISMAYFIELD | 14 | Group member who wrote and sang 48-Across: 2 wds. |
| 31% | JOHNLEWIS | 9 | Politician and civil rights leader who was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 2002: 2 wds. |
| 31% | CARLSANDBURG | 12 | "Fog" poet who won Pulitzer Prizes for both Poetry and History: 2 wds. |
| 31% | GORDONHAYWARD | 13 | Jazz and Hornets NBA All-Star forward who retired in 2024: 2 wds. |
| 31% | DONALDTRUMP | 11 | President who was impeached December 18, 2019 and January 13, 2021: 2 wds. |
| 31% | JONIMITCHELL | 12 | "Both Sides Now" singer-songwriter who wrote "Morning Glory on the Vine," a book of poetry and drawings (2 wds.) |
| 31% | BERNIEWORRELL | 13 | Composer and founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic who wrote a concerto at age 8: 2 wds. |
| 31% | JOSEPHINEBAKER | 14 | Harlem Renaissance singer and actress known for dancing in a banana skirt: 2 wds. |