The holidays are for spending time with the people you love most in this world. And for me, that category includes my family, my friends, and also the entire cast of Empire. Fox knows this somehow (probably because of the show’s record-breaking ratings and soundtrack streams) and kindly planned a glitzy holiday special hosted by Empire stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Taraji And Terrence’s White Hot Holidays airs on Wednesday night and will help fill the void left by the show’s very, very long winter hiatus. (How am I supposed to make it to March without Miss Cookie?) Howard and Henson will emcee the proceedings and perform a duet or two, but they’re not the only stars who’ll be taking the stage. These festive festivities are star-studded, as Taraji and Terrence's White Hot Holidays will feature guest appearances from the Empire cast and the music world.
Musical holiday specials are in vogue right now, and I love the old-school variety style of programs like A Very Murray Christmas, Michael Buble’s Christmas In Hollywood, and now, Taraji And Terrence’s White Hot Holidays. Fox teases that there may be some surprises tucked away in Santa Lucious’ bag, but these are the famous friends who’ll definitely be celebrating with the Empire leads this Wednesday. Look out for these special guest stars that promo photos reveal will appear on Taraji And Terrence’s White Hot Holidays.
Mary J. Blige
Blige is owning this December. She just brought the house down as Evillene, the Wicked Witch on The Wiz Live and now she's bringing those legendary pipes to this holiday party. Never enough Mary, is what I always say.
Chris Brown
Chris Brown is also a part of the celebration, maybe reprising his rendition of "This Christmas" from that movie's soundtrack.
Jamie Foxx
How has Jamie Foxx not appeared on Empire as a rival studio head yet? His appearance on Taraji And Terrence’s White Hot Holidays gives me hope it'll happen eventually. And for now, I can settle for the Annie actor putting his own spin on a classic carol.
Bryshere "Yazz" Gray
The youngest Lyon backs up his TV parents on the special, and the Empire/Lyon Dynasty feud can go on the backburner for now. Relish this image of Hakeem, Lucious, and Cookie in harmony together, because those moments of peace and few and far between.
John Legend
I don't know what Christmas song John Legend is going to sing, but I know it's already my favorite version of it.
Jussie Smollett
Hakeem isn't the only Lyon offspring invited to the party. Jussie Smollett, aka middle son Jamal, will be in the building too, which hopefully means a family sing-a-long ala Season 1's "You're So Beautiful" remix.
will.i.am
will.i.am will be appearing as himself, and not (I'm led to believe) as a special Christmas hologram.
The cast of Taraji And Terrence’s White Hot Holidays are definitely the people I most want to party with this season — just don't tell my actual friends.
Images: Frank Micelotta/FOX; Giphy (7)
