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Kelly Rowland Joins Empire Season 2—Find Out Who She's Playing (Spoiler Alert)!

Last month, she hung out with the FOX show's screenwriters, sparking speculation she may make an appearance on the series

By Jennifer Cooper, Corinne Heller Jul 04, 2015 8:19 PMTags
Kelly Rowland Erika Goldring/Getty Images

Empire's VIP guest list for season 2 keeps growing!

Kelly Rowland will appear on the hit FOX show this fall, a source told E! News exclusively on Saturday, the Fourth of July, at the 2015 Essence Festival in New Orleans. The 34-year-old R&B singer will play Lucious Lyon's mother in a flashback.

During season 1, Empire often featured scenes from Terrence Howard's character's past, which shows and his feisty now-ex-wife Cookie Lyon, played by Taraji P. Henson, during harder times before they built their powerful music empire.

Last month, Rowland hung out with Empire screenwriters, sparking speculation she may make an appearance on the show.

The show's second season is set to debut on Sept. 23 and feature high-profile guest stars such as Chris RockLenny KravitzAlicia Keys and Marisa Tomei, who will play a demanding venture capitalist.

Also, Cookie's love life heats up even more in season 2—Magic Mike XXL actor Adam Rodriguez will portray her new love interest.