Empire’s Mesmerizing Moment Amid Familial Chaos Sets Stage for a New Cast Member

On Danny Strong [actor; Emmy-winning TV writer; co-writer, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1, The Butler] and Lee Daniels [The Butler; Oscar-nominated director, Precious…]‘s huge TV hit Empire (Fox) we’re acclimated to the familial feuding and fighting.

There’s always a beef to settle between label co-founder and CEO Lucious Lyons – Terrence Howard [Oscar-nominated, Best Actor, Hustle and Flow (2006)] and ex-wife and founder Cookie [outlandishly-costumed, but that rare personage you can’t take your eyes off] Tarjai P. Henson [Oscar-nominated for her brilliant supporting role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) and now Emmy-nominated for Empire].

Not only that, but the assorted sexual tensions and liaisons, backstabbing, familial bickering, one-upmanship, blackmail, revenge, paranoia, murders, brotherly squabbling between Hakeem and Jamal – and, now, conversations directly with God.

The wholesome factor is so low [but so much fun], that you would have been right to be surprised at the rare, poignant moment that shone brightly recently with the addition of 20-year-old South Bronx native Jamila Valesqueze. It was the type the creators should have more of; but seemingly it won’t be one to signal smooth sailing ahead.

First, there was the welcome addition of Oscar-winner Marisa Tomei as a sassy lesbian Forbes -list billionairess with an eye on Cookie, who’s getting a love interest in the form of hunk Adam Rodriguez (Delko on CSI Miami). Then, there was the stunning Valesqueze, who stole the show performing a beautifully-orchestrated Spanish vocal of Roy Orbison and Joe Melson’s “Blue Bayou,” a huge hit for Orbinson and an even bigger hit for Linda Ronstadt, who also recorded a Spanish version.

Things were racing toward a high-tension finale with the arrested Cookie making deals with a prosecutor out to get Lucious; brothers Hakeem (Bryshere Gray) and Jamal (Jussie Smollent) in a jealous rage and about to kill each other while shooting a music video; and older brother Andre (Trai Buyers) and wife Rhonda (Katlin Doubleday) so guilt-ridden over a murder they grab shovels and head for the woods to do some grave-digging.

Then, a man — this one, the still-teenaged Hakeem — wanders into a bar to cry in his bourbon. He’s lost in another world until it’s announced a singer, Valesqueze, will be making her first professional stage appearance. When she opens up, Hakeem is mesmerized and immediately smitten. He’s been looking for a great voice to groom for stardom, but this isn’t a rap/hip-hop singer.

She’s set to appear in several episodes. In her second appearance, she sees that Hakeem has more than creating a star on his mind [now that’s he’s freed himself from that weird older woman attraction to Naomi Campbell]. Love’s in the air, but he’s about to discover his discovery has a mind of her mind and won’t be putty in this hands.

Valesqueze’s no stranger to TV. She played Sarita in the ABC Family series Twisted. In 2011, she had the lead in indie film Come Home, Raquel. She began singing and performing as a kindergartner. At the age of eight some sites state that she made her stage debut in the play The End of You, but no corroborating credit was found and there was no reply to a message seeking validation.

Ellis Nassour is an Ole Miss alum and noted arts journalist and author who recently donated an ever-growing exhibition of performing arts history to the University of Mississippi. He is the author of the best-selling Patsy Cline biography, Honky Tonk Angel, as well as the hit musical revue, Always, Patsy Cline.