Jeopardy! Contestants Miss Easy Final Clue on The Beatles

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — On May 7, 2025, contestants on the iconic game show Jeopardy! faced a difficult surprise during the Final Jeopardy round. The category was ‘The Grammys,’ with a clue that stumped even those with extensive trivia experience.

The clue read: ‘Best New Artists at the 7th Annual Grammys, this band would be nominated the next six years but not again until the 39th and 67th events.’ Despite what many viewers deemed an easy question, none of the three contestants provided the correct answer.

The reigning champion, Sarah Gillis, wrote down ‘Who is the Marine Marching Band,’ which was incorrect. The Marine Marching Band has never been nominated for a Grammy, making her answer even more bewildering.

Challenger Ben Ganger guessed ‘Springsteen,’ misinterpreting the clue, as Bruce Springsteen is a solo artist, not a band. Meanwhile, another contestant answered ‘The Rolling Stones.’ Host Ken Jennings noted that while the answer was closer, the Stones first received a nomination in 1979 and have also never been nominated consecutively for six years as the clue required.

The correct answer was ‘Who are The Beatles?’ They won Best New Artist at the 1965 Grammys and were continuously nominated every year until 1971, before being nominated again in 1997 and 2025.

This blunder reflects a wider sentiment among fans and contestants that even the easiest clues can trip up knowledgeable players. Jeopardy! continues to challenge intellect and provoke discussion among its viewers, demonstrating once again the unpredictability of trivia.

Despite the missed clue, Gillis placed last with $0 after wagering everything, while Ganger secured the win, maintaining a lead with incorrect guesses.