Mariah Carey! Kelly Rowland! And – drum roll, please – Oprah!
In its brief first season, Empire became instantly known for several things: Cookie, Cookie's wardrobe, and the parade of ridiculous guest stars. The first season featured appearances by everyone from Courtney Love to Naomi Campbell to Mary J. Blige, not to mention people like Snoop Dogg, Gladys Knight, and Patti LaBelle playing themselves. Season two doesn't start airing till September 23, but the guest list is already shaping up to be more insane than it was the first time around. Below, an exploration of who's in, who's maybe in, and what they're all doing. May they all stay away from the business end of Cookie's broom.
1. Mariah Carey
Who she's playing: Not clear — and as of now, it's not even
fully confirmed when she'll be on the show — but trust that whoever she plays will be a fabulous, legendary diva. Picture it: Mariah as an aging pop icon named Sariah Tarey going toe-to-toe with Cookie, who refuses to let her blow $100,000 of the label's money on glitter-covered reindeer costumes for her backup dancers. Boo Boo Kitty steps in to back Cookie up but explodes in a gruesome cloud of blood and brain matter after just one side-eye from Sariah. Instant Emmys for everybody.
2. Kelly Rowland
Who she's playing: Lucious Lyon's mother. This will happen in flashbacks, of course, but given the fact that Terrence Howard has played Lucious as a much younger man in many episodes, don't be too surprised if they show up on screen at the same time.
3. Alicia Keys
Who she's playing: Unknown. But don't you think her voice is a perfect match for Jamal's? Perhaps her heartfelt piano tunes will lure him back from the dark side and down a nicer, less cutthroat path.
4. Lenny Kravitz
Who he's playing: Unknown. Given his interest in ostentatious clothing like leather pants and indoor sunglasses, he could make a good love match for Cookie, Our Lady of the Leopard Print. If that doesn't pan out, maybe he could play a hotshot director who wants Jamal to score his gritty dystopian teen romance. You're so beautiful … especially now that there are fewer than 10,000 people left on earth!
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5. Chris Rock
Who he's playing: Based on his orange jumpsuit, someone in prison with Lucious. Terrence Howard said that he
accidentally punched him on set, so maybe the vibe between them is more Red and Vee than Poussey and Taystee. Either way, Lucious better not tell him any secrets in there in case Chris decides to sell to TMZ post-lockup.
6. Oprah Winfrey
Who she's playing: Oprah, like Mariah, is not yet officially confirmed, but if this does happen, could she play anyone but herself? Lucious will have to give his first interview to
someone after he gets out of prison for murdering Bunky.
7. Marisa Tomei
Who she's playing: Mimi Whiteman, who
Deadline describes as a "demanding venture capitalist" with an interest in "hip-hop music, social trends, high-end fashion, and beautiful women." Beautiful women like Tiana, perhaps?
8. Adam Rodriguez
Who he's playing: Laz Delgado, described by
Variety as a "smooth-talking concert promoter with expert hustler skills" who will attempt to romance Cookie. She definitely seems like the sort of woman who'd appreciate some
Magic Mike XXL moves, so Laz, if you're reading this, please try them.
9. Common
Who he's playing: Unknown, and possibly not set in the stone all the way. A cameo as himself would be nice, but it would also be fun to see him as a level-headed consultant who comes in to clean up the disaster that is the Empire label. "What are you guys doing? No, really. Do you understand even one aspect of business?"
10. Ludacris
Who he's playing: Though you might assume Ludacris would play himself on the show Snoop Dogg-style, remember that he's also had a successful acting career in movies like
Crash and the
Fast & Furious franchise. In an Instagram from the set, he's wearing a cop uniform while standing next to a jumpsuit-clad Lucious, so look for him in the prison scenes.
11. Pitbull
Who he's playing: Himself. No, no. no. But take comfort, because it's
Empire. He could still be killed.
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