| 100% | NORAROBERTS | 11 | Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame novelist who wrote 12-Across and 25-Across (2 wds.) |
| 86% | NORAROBERTS | 11 | Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame novelist who wrote 17-Across and 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 49% | TOMWAITS | 8 | 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who wrote the Rod Stewart hit "Downtown Train": 2 wds. |
| 47% | NORA | 4 | Roberts who was the first inductee into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame |
| 44% | HARLANHOWARD | 12 | Songwriter in the Nashville Songwriters, Country Music, and Songwriters Halls of Fame who wrote the songs on 40-Across's 2023 album (2 wds.) |
| 43% | JEFFBECK | 8 | 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who was a guitarist with the Yardbirds: 2 wds. |
| 43% | NORA | 4 | Roberts in the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame |
| 43% | SANDRABROWN | 11 | "Tailspin" novelist who received the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998 (2 wds.) |
| 42% | KENNYROGERS | 11 | Country Music Hall of Fame singer who collaborated with 17-Across and 28-Across (2 wds.) |
| 42% | HANKAARON | 9 | Braves and Brewers star who gained first-ballot induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 with 97.8% of the vote: 2 wds. |
| 42% | MAGICJOHNSON | 12 | Hall of Fame Lakers legend who won both NCAA and NBA championships: 2 wds. |
| 42% | MICHAELJORDAN | 13 | Hall of Fame Bulls legend who won both NCAA and NBA championships: 2 wds. |
| 42% | JOHNHAVLICEK | 12 | Hall of Fame Celtics legend who won both NCAA and NBA championships: 2 wds. |
| 42% | NORA | 4 | ___ Roberts, first inductee into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame |
| 42% | NORA | 4 | ___ Roberts, first inductee in the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame |
| 42% | NORAROBERTS | 11 | "Angels Fall" novelist who received the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 (2 wds.) |
| 42% | KURTVONNEGUT | 12 | American novelist in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame who was born in 1922 (2 wds.) |
| 42% | DOLLYPARTON | 11 | Country Music Hall of Fame singer who collaborated with 15-Across and 43-Across on "Trio" (2 wds.) |
| 41% | RAYBRADBURY | 11 | "S Is for Space" short-story writer who was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999 (2 wds.) |
| 41% | KATEWILHELM | 11 | "The Mile-Long Spaceship" short-story writer who was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2003 (2 wds.) |
| 41% | HUGHLOFTING | 11 | Novelist who wrote 12 books featuring 53-Across (2 wds.) |
| 41% | BEVERLYJENKINS | 14 | "Second Time Sweeter" novelist who received the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 (2 wds.) |
| 41% | LINDARONSTADT | 13 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer who collaborated with 15-Across and 28-Across on "Trio" (2 wds.) |
| 41% | GAILDEVERS | 10 | US Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame runner who won gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics: 2 wds |
| 41% | JANETJACKSON | 12 | "Control" singer who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tomorrow: 2 wds. |
| 41% | SNOOPDOGG | 9 | "Gin and Juice" rapper who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023: 2 wds. |
| 41% | KENJENNINGS | 11 | "Jeopardy!" champion and host who was inducted into the Jeopardy! Hall of Fame in 2025: 2 wds. |
| 41% | DONDELILLO | 10 | American novelist who wrote "Mao II," 18-Across, 25-Across, and 34-Across (2 wds.) |
| 41% | DAVIDROBINSON | 13 | Hall of Fame Spurs center who played on both the 1992 and 1996 US "Dream Team": 2 wds. |
| 41% | CATFISHHUNTER | 13 | Hall of Fame A's and Yankees pitcher who's nicknamed after a whiskered bottom-feeder: 2 wds. |