| 100% | SWEETS | 6 | Nickname of trumpeter Harry Edison who spent 13 years with the Count Basie Orchestra |
| 29% | THAD | 4 | Jazz trumpeter Jones who played in and later led the Count Basie Orchestra |
| 29% | TOE | 3 | Nickname of Lou Groza, who played 19 years for the Cleveland Browns (with "The") |
| 28% | GOBLIN | 6 | With 13-Across, Oxford's 2022 Word of the Year |
| 28% | LIL | 3 | The Count Basie Orchestra’s “___ Darlin’” |
| 28% | AROD | 4 | Nickname of the ex-Yankee who once was in a relationship with J.Lo: Hyph. |
| 27% | RONSANTO | 8 | Hall of Fame third baseman who spent 14 seasons with the Cubs |
| 27% | ANGELA | 6 | With 33-Across, German leader who was Time's 2015 Person of the Year |
| 26% | CARLOS | 6 | With 34-Across, Astros shortstop who won the 2015 AL Rookie of the Year Award |
| 26% | AARON | 5 | With 30-Across, New York Yankees slugger who was Time's Athlete of the Year in 2022 |
| 25% | STEVIE | 6 | With 31-Across, "Sir Duke" singer who won the 1977 Grammy for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical |
| 25% | JUSTIN | 6 | With 35-Across, "Yummy" singer who won the Pop Album of the Year Juno in 2011 and 2016 |
| 25% | DAVID | 5 | With 34-Across, Red Sox pitcher who won the MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2018 |
| 25% | JORDAN | 6 | With 33-Across, golfer who won both PGA Tour Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards |
| 25% | DANHURLEY | 9 | Head coach of 13-Across who was named Naismith Coach of the Year in 2024 (2 wds.) |
| 25% | GATES | 5 | Melinda ___, philanthropist who was the TIME "Person of the Year" in 2005 along with U2 frontman Bono |
| 25% | ICHIRO | 6 | With 41-Across, Japanese baseball player who was named both AL Rookie of the Year and AL MVP in 2001 |
| 25% | MEGHANMARKLE | 12 | Former actress and now Duchess of Sussex who tied the knot with Prince Harry in 2018: 2 wds. |
| 25% | IKE | 3 | Nickname of the president after Harry Truman |
| 25% | MLIII | 5 | 13 years before the Battle of Hastings |
| 24% | NANCY | 5 | With 44-Across, golfer who was named both LPGA Rookie of the Year and LPGA Player of the Year in 1978 |
| 24% | SAM | 3 | ___ Smith, "Stay With Me" singer who was 22 when they won the 2015 Grammy for Record of the Year |
| 24% | BOYD | 4 | Jimmy who had a No. 1 hit at the age of 13 with "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" |
| 24% | IKE | 3 | Nickname of the president between Harry and Jack |
| 24% | ABE | 3 | Nickname of the president who followed James Buchanan |
| 24% | DUALIPA | 7 | "Cold Heart" singer who, with Elton John, won the 2022 American Music Award for Collaboration of the Year (2 wds.) |
| 24% | SAMSMITH | 8 | "Stay With Me" singer who was a first-time Grammy nominee for Record of the Year (and won): 2 wds. |
| 24% | ABE | 3 | Nickname of the president who gave the Gettysburg Address |
| 24% | PAPADOC | 7 | Nickname of the dictator who created the Tontons Macoutes |
| 24% | ABE | 3 | Nickname of the president who was assassinated in 1865 |