Quinta Brunson Reveals Which Concert Janine Would Attend at Emmys

The 2026 Emmys red carpet was full of glamour and genuine fun, and a few stars made the night extra memorable by letting their characters do the talking. When asked which concerts their on-screen alter egos would attend, some of TV's most beloved performers ran with the question in the most charming ways.

Quinta Brunson Keeps It Very Janine

Leave it to Quinta Brunson — the creator and star of Abbott Elementary — to have the most delightfully specific answer on the carpet. Brunson stepped out looking stunning and was in a warm, chatty mood when the question came up, according to Billboard. Her answer stayed completely true to Janine Teagues' spirit: enthusiastic, a little wholesome, and deeply earnest. It's the kind of detail that reminds you why audiences have fallen so hard for that character — and why Brunson's connection to her feels so effortless after multiple seasons together.

Of course, it also tracks that Brunson would think carefully about this. She's the kind of creative who considers every layer of who Janine is, from her optimism in the face of an underfunded school system to her evolving personal life. A concert choice isn't just trivia — in Brunson's hands, it becomes a small piece of character study.

The Pitt's Shabana Azeez Joins the Fun

Shabana Azeez, who stars in the medical drama The Pitt, also weighed in on the playful red carpet prompt. Azeez's answer reflected the high-stakes, emotionally intense world her character navigates every episode — think less pop spectacle, more something with real soul and emotional depth. It was a fun contrast to the glitzy awards-night setting, and a nice reminder that The Pitt has quietly become one of the most talked-about new dramas of the year.

Both women brought genuine enthusiasm to what could have been a throwaway question, turning it into a little window into how deeply they understand the people they play.

Red Carpet Moments That Go Beyond the Dress

These kinds of off-script exchanges are honestly some of the best content to come out of awards season. Between the formal speeches and the carefully coordinated fashion moments, it's the spontaneous, personality-driven answers that tend to stick with fans. Seeing Brunson laugh through a hypothetical about Janine's concert preferences feels just as authentic as anything you'd see on Abbott Elementary itself.

It's also a great reminder of how invested these performers are in the characters they've built. When an actor can rattle off a concert pick for their alter ego without missing a beat, that's genuine love for the role — not just a job.

Abbott Elementary Keeps Its Cultural Grip

Heading into a new season, Abbott Elementary continues to be one of broadcast television's most beloved properties. Brunson's journey with the show — from creating it as a passion project to becoming one of the most celebrated showrunners and performers in the industry — has been one of the great TV success stories of the decade. Her recent move to a major overall deal signals that the industry is betting big on whatever she does next, too.

For now, though, fans are happy just watching her show up on red carpets, rep Janine Teagues with full commitment, and remind everyone why Abbott Elementary still feels like the most joyful hour on television. Concert picks and all.

Related on Ni4o: Quinta Brunson Exits Warner Bros. for Five-Year Disney Deal