Lea Michele Celebrates Chess Co-Stars' Tony Nominations Despite Missing Out on Best Actress Nod

Lea Michele is throwing her support behind her Chess ensemble, despite missing out on a Tony nomination herself.

The 2026 Tony Awards nominations dropped on Tuesday, May 5, with the Broadway revival earning five nods across various categories. While Michele drew praise for her turn as Florence Vassy in the beloved musical's revival, she didn't land a Best Actress in a Musical nomination—a particularly notable snub given the high expectations surrounding her performance.

This marks another missed opportunity for Michele to secure her first Tony nomination. She was previously overlooked for Spring Awakening in 2007 and was ineligible for Funny Girl after stepping into the role mid-run rather than originating it.

The Chess nominations include Nicholas Christopher for Best Actor in a Musical, Bryce Pinkham for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, and Hannah Cruz for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. The show also picked up nods in Best Orchestrations and Best Lighting Design of a Musical.

Rather than dwell on her own snub, Michele has been amplifying the wins for her castmates. She reshared congratulatory posts from the Chess social media accounts celebrating each of the nominated performers.

Michele was absent from the stage on Tuesday evening following the announcement, and Telecharge confirmed she won't perform Wednesday or Thursday this week either. Her run in the role extends through June 21, after which "Leave (Get Out)" artist JoJo will step into the Florence role.