If you’re experiencing major Empire withdrawals, then this month’s Emmy Magazine will be a sight for sore eyes.
Co-stars Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard channel their Empire alter egos, Cookie and Lucious Lyon, for the latest cover of the magazine’s newest issue.
Despite only having one season, Empire has been an undeniable sensation, as week after week, more and more viewers tune in to watch the Lyon family struggle with deceit, betrayal, and murder, all the while striving to build a lasting family legacy on the power of music.
Cookie and Lucious’s volatile relationship is one of the main reasons viewers are glued to the television. And their strong on-screen chemistry is very obvious in the steamy photoshoot.
While the widespread success of the show may be a surprise to some, Henson’s father always knew she was destined for greatness. In the accompanying interview, she recalls a moment from years ago with her father right before he passed away:
He was like, ‘Baby, that ain’t nothin’. You are going to be a sensation,'” the Empire star recounts now. “He was looking off into the distance, and I think he saw what was coming.
“At the time, I was like, ‘What you see? Shoot, I want to see it! Time went on, and I’m getting older. I ain’t no spring chicken. I’m thinking, ‘Maybe the Oscar [nod] was it.’ Then [Empire] comes along, and it blows up, and it’s like, ‘Okay, Daddy, this is what you were talking about.’ He saw this moment right here.”
Howard also admits to being surprised by the instant success of the show. As he told Emmy Magazine:
“I didn’t know that the American public was really ready to tackle some of these issues that we’re tackling, especially the African-American population,” Howard says. “With the homophobia that runs through there, I didn’t think a lot of the scenes that we’ve had would be welcome. I thought 20 minutes in[to the first episode], by the time they had the first [same-sex] kiss, it would be a wrap. Everybody would change the channel.”
Well despite, or maybe because of, the variety of issues featured on the drama, the American public can’t seem to stop watching Empire. If you can’t get enough either, head to newsstands on June 9th to grab your copy of their sensational cover.
SOURCE: Emmy Mag | PHOTO CREDIT: Instagram
