Mariah Carey has been confirmed to become the next music diva who shall be guesting on the hit American musical drama TV series “Empire” on Fox when its third season returns to the small screen on September 21.
At the time of the announcement of Mariah Carey’s guesting stint on “Empire” Season 3, the only detail that was mentioned is that she is going to take on the role of a performer named Kitty.
Over the past few days, however, actress Taraji P. Henson, who plays the Lyon matriarch Cookie, revealed that Mariah Carey’s Kitty is a music superstar who is friends with the former’s character.
She said that Kitty is a performer who is supporting Jamal Lyon, played by Jussie Smollett, the middle son of Lucious Lyon, played by Terrence Howard and Cookie, and help him get through his difficulties.
Jamal has an older brother in Hakeem, played by Bryshere Y. Gray, and Andre, played by Trai Byers, reports Movie News Guide.
A death in Season 3
Henson also teased that there would be a death in Season 3 of “Empire” but she did not reveal who is it going to be, prompting speculations that it is her character Cookie who shall be meeting her demise in the show.
The rumors began when she mentioned that upon receipt of the script for Season 3, she and most of the cast of characters were all saying ‘What?’ indicative of something bad is going to happen.
She did not confirm, however, if her character is going to die in Season 3 but she did tease that there is going to be a death in the upcoming season.
It looks very likely that way but the death would be a toss-up between Anika Calhoun, played by Grace Gealey, and Rhonda Lyon, played by Kaitlin Doubleday.
Back in the Season 2 final episode, Rhonda and Anika got into a brawl after the latter admitted that she was the one who pushed the former down the stairs. As they get more fierce and aggressive during their catfight, one or both seems to have fallen off a 30-story balcony and it is unclear who it was.
Showrunner Ilene Chaiken confirmed that one of the two ladies did die in the scene and they will find out who is it going to be in the Season 3 premiere of “Empire.”
Casting changes on ‘Empire’
Meanwhile, there have been reports of some casting changes on the set of “Empire” for its Season 3.
Romeo Miller will be replacing Kid Cudi. Both are rappers and actors. Miller shall be playing a new character who will become a rival for Hakeem and a possible love interest for Tiana Brown, played by Serayah McNeill.
Miller used to be known as Lil Romeo. He also appeared in the Nickelodeon sitcom “Romeo!” Cudi left “Empire” apparently because of creative differences, reports Cleveland.
There are already footages that have been shot involving Cudi but those will be reshot by the producers to already include Miller.
While the guesting of Mariah Carey is a big icing on the already big cake of “Empire” in the TV industry, as well as a major delight to the fans of the hit show, it is also a welcome achievement for the “We Belong Together” songstress.
She said that having to perform as a superstar in “Empire” is like a fulfilled destiny for her. Mariah shall be playing the popular celebrity named Kitty, which is certainly different from the Boo Boo Kitty star who previously graced the TV series.
Also in the same trailer, Cookie Lyon was quoted as saying that they have built the family and the family is strong, in reference to the possible major challenges that are about to come their way.