A previous version of this story first appeared in TheWrap Magazine Fall TV issue.
“TCA Program of the Year–awesome!” said Jussie Smollett, about Empire’s recent award from the Television Critics Association–an honor that helped take the sting out of the hit show’s low Emmy nomination count (one, for star Taraji P. Henson). Smollett, a ’90s child star (The Mighty Ducks, North), has hit a whole new fame level as Jamal, the musically talented scion of the feuding Lyon clan on Fox’s hip-hop soap opera. “When I went to Whole Foods, there was a church bus, and like 13 [people] started going, ‘JAMAL, JAMAL!!’ And that’s when I knew it was a little bit different than anything else I’ve been involved in.”
Smollett, 32, plays one of the most high-profile gay characters on TV, and this spring he confirmed to Ellen DeGeneres that he is both a real musician (with two tracks on Empire’s soundtrack and a recording contract) and a gay guy in real life. But he’s terrified to reveal any of Jamal’s secrets in the second season, though we know that Jamal has taken over the record company for his imprisoned dad (Terrence Howard), while his mother, Cookie (Henson), also battles for control. “Some of the teams have shifted, and we’ll see what happens,” said Smollett. “[Jamal] has grown a great deal.”
But emotionally, what’s up with Jamal? “I really like my job, so I’m not sharing any spoilers.” Not even a hint? “He’s really changing. He’s dealing with the pressures of fame and success, and he’s definitely not what he was in the first season.”
Also Read: 40 Exclusive Portraits From TheWrap's Fall TV Issue Cover Shoot (Photos)
Smollett did say that despite “all the glitz and glamour of showbiz and celebrity, [Empire] very much deals with the issues of the nation and the world that we live in today. It’s a great chance to do something really cool.”
See more photos of Jussie Smollett here and the complete coverage of Fall TV Issue here:
40 Exclusive Portraits From TheWrap's Fall TV Issue Cover Shoot (Photos)
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Jack Falahee, "How to Get Away with Murder"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by John Varvatos.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Jack Falahee, "How to Get Away with Murder"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by John Varvatos.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Jack Falahee, "How to Get Away with Murder"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by John Varvatos.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Jack Falahee, "How to Get Away with Murder"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by John Varvatos.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Jussie Smollett, "Empire"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by Calvin Klein.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Jussie Smollett, "Empire"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by Calvin Klein.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Jussie Smollett, "Empire"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by Calvin Klein.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Jussie Smollett, "Empire"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by Calvin Klein.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Katharine McPhee, "Scorpion"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by House of CB, earrings by Zoe Chicco, rings by Michael John Jewelry and Royal Jewelry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Katharine McPhee, "Scorpion"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by House of CB, earrings by Zoe Chicco, rings by Michael John Jewelry and Royal Jewelry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Katharine McPhee, "Scorpion"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by House of CB, earrings by Zoe Chicco, rings by Michael John Jewelry and Royal Jewelry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Katharine McPhee, "Scorpion"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by House of CB, earrings by Zoe Chicco, rings by Michael John Jewelry and Royal Jewelry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Keke Palmer, "Scream Queens"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Romper by Peggy Hartanto, ring by Sylvie Jewelry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Keke Palmer, "Scream Queens"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Romper by Peggy Hartanto, ring by Sylvie Jewelry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Keke Palmer, "Scream Queens"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Romper by Peggy Hartanto, ring by Sylvie Jewelry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Keke Palmer, "Scream Queens"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Romper by Peggy Hartanto, ring by Sylvie Jewelry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Ryan Guzman, "Heroes Reborn"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit by Anthony Franco, button-down by Aldo.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Ryan Guzman, "Heroes Reborn"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit by Anthony Franco, button-down by Aldo.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Ryan Guzman, "Heroes Reborn"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit by Anthony Franco, button-down by Aldo.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Ryan Guzman, "Heroes Reborn"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit by Anthony Franco, button-down by Aldo.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Justin Baldoni, "Jane the Virgin"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit by Anthony Franco, button-down by Hugo Boss.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Justin Baldoni, "Jane the Virgin"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit by Anthony Franco, button-down by Hugo Boss.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Justin Baldoni, "Jane the Virgin"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit by Anthony Franco, button-down by Hugo Boss.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Justin Baldoni, "Jane the Virgin"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit by Anthony Franco, button-down by Hugo Boss.
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Elisabeth Caren/TheWrap
Jamie Alexander, "Blindspot"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Elisabeth Caren
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Jumpsuit by VONE.
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Elisabeth Caren/TheWrap
Jamie Alexander, "Blindspot"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Elisabeth Caren
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Jumpsuit by VONE.
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Elisabeth Caren/TheWrap
Jamie Alexander, "Blindspot"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Elisabeth Caren
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Jumpsuit by VONE.
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Elisabeth Caren/TheWrap
Jamie Alexander, "Blindspot"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Elisabeth Caren
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Jumpsuit by VONE.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Rachel Bloom, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by LUBLU Kira Plastinina, earrings by Suzanne Kalan, rings by Suzanne Kalan and Sylvie Collection.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Rachel Bloom, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by LUBLU Kira Plastinina, earrings by Suzanne Kalan, rings by Suzanne Kalan and Sylvie Collection.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Rachel Bloom, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by LUBLU Kira Plastinina, earrings by Suzanne Kalan, rings by Suzanne Kalan and Sylvie Collection.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Rachel Bloom, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by LUBLU Kira Plastinina, earrings by Suzanne Kalan, rings by Suzanne Kalan and Sylvie Collection.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Rebecca Rittenhouse, "Blood & Oil"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by LUBLU Kira Plastinina, rings by Royal Jewelry, earrings by Zoe Chicco.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Rebecca Rittenhouse, "Blood & Oil"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by LUBLU Kira Plastinina, rings by Royal Jewelry, earrings by Zoe Chicco.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Rebecca Rittenhouse, "Blood & Oil"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by LUBLU Kira Plastinina, rings by Royal Jewelry, earrings by Zoe Chicco.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Rebecca Rittenhouse, "Blood & Oil"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Dress by LUBLU Kira Plastinina, rings by Royal Jewelry, earrings by Zoe Chicco.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Mehcad Brooks, "Supergirl"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by Burberry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Mehcad Brooks, "Supergirl"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by Burberry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Mehcad Brooks, "Supergirl"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by Burberry.
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Corina Marie Howell/TheWrap
Mehcad Brooks, "Supergirl"
See exclusive interviews, photos and video in complete coverage of TheWrap's Fall TV Issue
Photographed by Corina Marie Howell for TheWrap
Styled by Jordan Grossman. Suit and button-down by Burberry.
Jussie Smollett (”Empire“), Jack Falahee (”How to Get Away With Murder“), Katharine McPhee (”Scorpion“), Ryan Guzman (”Heroes Reborn“), Keke Palmer (”Scream Queens“), Justin Baldoni (”Jane the Virgin“), Jaimie Alexander (”Blindspot“), Rachel Bloom (”Crazy Ex Girlfriend“) Rebecca Rittenhouse (”Blood & Oil“) and Mehcad Brooks (”Supergirl“)