Smollet to Guest Star on WGN America’s Pre-Civil War Series “Underground”

Jussie Smollett  is going Underground

The 32-year-old Brazilian actor/singer and breakout Empire star will guest-star on two episodes of Underground, WGN America’s pre-Civil War straight-to-series drama about the Underground Railroad.

Jussie Smollett

The series from Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios follows a group of slaves who plan a daring escape from a Georgia plantation to cross 600 miles to freedom. They are aided along the way by a secret abolitionist couple running a station on the Underground Railroad, as they evade those tasked with bringing them back — dead or alive.

Smollett is Josey, a wild-eyed runaway who doesn’t trust anyone, not even those stationed along the way who would try to help him.

Smollet will appear alongside his sister, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, in the series. She’ll portray Rosalee, a timid house slave who finds strength within herself.

Underground is expected to premiere in 2016.

Carey Releases the Music Video for Latest Single “Infinity”

It’s too infinity and beyond for Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan singer has released the official music video for her latest single, “Infinity.”

Carey, a five-time Grammy winner, shared the clip overnight with a tweet to her 15.5 million followers.

Mariah Carey

Filmed by Brett Ratner, the video showcases Carey in all her diva glory as she drinks champagne and dabs herself in her very own-branded perfume.

Supermodel Tyson Beckford and Empire actor Jussie Smollett make blink-and-you’ll miss cameos.

“Infinity” is the new single from Carey’s latest album release #1 to Infinity, which was timed to coincide with her residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Smollet’s “Empire” Soundtrack Reaches No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart

Jussie Smollett is a chart-topper…

The 31-year-old Brazilian actor/singer and the stars of Fox‘s Empire have reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, as the breakout hit series’ soundtrack debuts atop the list.

Jussie Smollett

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

The Empire soundtrack was released March 10 through Columbia Records and bows at the top spot with 130,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending March 15, according to Nielsen Music.

Empire Soundtrack

It’s the first television soundtrack to debut at No. 1 since 2010, when three different Glee albums arrived atop the list.

Empire features contributions from its newcomer cast, like Smollett, as well as hitmakers like Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Estelle, Rita Ora, Juicy J and Courtney Love (all of which have guest-starred on the show).

Empire earned 17,000 units from track equivalent albums (thanks to the strong performance of the set’s multiple Billboard Hot 100 hit singles like “You’re So Beautiful” and “Conqueror“), while it tallied another 3,000 units from streaming equivalent albums.

Also helping matters: During release week, Smollett performed on TV’s The Ellen DeGeneres Show (March 9) and on Fox’s American Idol three days later (joined by fellow cast member Yazz).

Smollett Signs Recording Contract with Columbia Records

Jussie Smollett is ready to create his own music empire

The 31-year-old Brazilian actor/singer, one of the stars of Fox’s breakout hit series Empire, has reportedly landed a recording contract at Columbia Records.

Jussie Smollett

Smollett revealed the good news to Entertainment Weekly.

“There will be a Jussie Smollett album. I signed to Columbia,” he said when asked about future music plans. “So darling [Laughs] I’m label mates with Beyoncé and Adele and Barbra Streisand.”

Smollett has seen much success with his role on Fox’s smash hit, Empire, which continues to see new additions to its 13.8 million viewers with each episode.

News of the record deal comes as little surprise…

Throughout Empire’s freshman season, Smollett’s character, Jamal Lyon, has showcased some applaudable pipes. And his songs from the show has repeatedly performed well on iTunes.

Smollett and His “Empire” Castmates May Soon Hit the Road

Jussie Smollett may soon be performing at a concert venue near you…

Fox is “certainly thinking” about sending out the stars of its insta-hit hip-hop drama series Empire out on tour, according to EW.com.

Jussie Smollett

Dana Walden, co-chair and co-CEO of Fox Television Group, tells the site that a live musical tour — much like the one the network did with Glee for two summers — is a definite possibility for the ratings juggernaut.

“There’s no reason not to think of having all sorts of ancillary opportunities with this show,” Walden says.

Empire, which earned an early sophomore season renewal in January, has proven to be a ratings hit. For an unbelievable seventh week in a row, the series — a primetime soap about a family dynasty divided by the fight to control a hip-hop empire — surged in the ratings, netting 13.8 million viewers last Wednesday. That’s up from the previous week’s 13 million viewers, up from the previous week’s 12 million.

Fox Gives Early Renewal to Smollett’s Hip-Hop Musical Drama “Empire”

Jussie Smollett will be in an Empire state of mind for another year…

Fox has given an early sophomore season renewal for the 31-year-old Brazilian actor/singer’s new drama series Empire.

Jussie Smollett

The order for Empire was a no-brainer, as the show has performed extremely well for the network and made plenty of noise in social media.

The Imagine Television/20th Century Fox Television drama was created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong. Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson lead the ensemble cast in the primetime sudser about a hip-hop music mogul.

Smollet portrays Jamal Lyon on Empire, which also features Rafael de la Fuente in a recurring role as Smollet’s love interest.

Smollet’s previous credits include appearances on Revenge, On Our Own and The Mindy Project.