Chaka Khan will even be lending her legendary vocals to extend best wishes to the happy couple on tonight’s historic episode.
By Keyaira Boone, Essence
Wedding bells are ringing on tonight’s episode of Empire. After five seasons, the show is still finding a way to push culture forward by airing the first wedding of a Black, gay couple during primetime on a major broadcast network.
The episode, titled “Never Doubt I Love,” will feature Jamal and his fiancé Kai, played by Jussie Smollett and Toby Onwumere, saying their I Dos and even jumping the broom.
The pair have planned an affair fit for hip-hop royalty, but their fairy tale nuptials are placed in jeopardy by a vindictive person, looking to lock the Lyons down no matter what the occasion.
Chaka Khan will even be lending her legendary vocals to extend best wishes to the happy couple. She revealed how she felt about the momentous occasion in an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip.
“Today’s wedding is special and controversial,” she stated about her appearance. “But my answer to all that is just love is love.”
Other guest stars on the special episode include singer Mario and The Break’s Wood Harris.
The cast also shared how they felt about the couple’s groundbreaking nuptials in a behind-the-scenes video filmed on the set.
“What’s fun about it is sort of getting to be at a weird kind of family function with your work family,” said Gabourey Sidibe, who plays assistant-turned-executive Becky on the hit series.
She also declared the episode the best Empire wedding ever, pointing out that unlike with Hakeem’s halted trip to the alter somebody actually got married at this one.
With Jamal being walked down the aisle by both of his gun-toting, record-slinging parents anything could happen so don’t miss out on Jamal’s big day on tonight’s episode of Empire, airing at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.
This article originally appeared in ESSENCE.
