'Empire' Season 2 Cast: Mariah Carey Still Impacts Show Even In Absence?

It has been confirmed that Mariah Carey will no longer be a part of "Empire" season 2 cast as a guest star. Still, that does not mean she's not connected to the show.

Carey, a multiple Grammy winner, will not be seen with Cookie or Lyon in the Fox musical drama, but she is very much involved in another project "Empire" fans will surely love.

It turns out that the singing diva and Jussie Smollet, who plays RnB singer Jamal Lyon, are working together for his new album.

"Who knows more about publishing than Mariah Carey? She schooled me," he told Out.com. "She truly is one of the most brilliant people that I've ever talked to."

Six of Smollett's songs in his new album have already been released in the show.

Carey, who just got engaged to billionaire James Packer, was rumored to be part of "Empire" season 2 cast shortly after the conclusion of its pilot season. However, things did not go exactly as planned.

"None of those people are going to actually be on the show so I can't control what names all of a sudden take off as being guest stars because they're not," co-creator and executive producer Danny Strong told The Hollywood Reporter, when asked if Carey and other big time celebrities will join "Empire" season 2 cast.

Among the names rumored to join the cast of "Empire" season 2 were Denzel Washington, Oprah and Eminem. Those who already made appearances in some capacity were Alicia Keys, Chris Rock, Ne-Yo and Ludacris.

Last October, Smollet got the Internet buzzing when he 'confirmed' that Mariah Carey is joining the "Empire" season 2 cast.

"That rumor is true," he told Entertainment Weekly. "That makes me feel so good to say that rumor is true."

"Empire" season 2 will return on March 30 for the episode titled, "Death Will Have His Day."