TARAJI AND TERRENCE COVER EMMY MAGAZINE

The debut season of FOX’s Hip Hop family drama has seen unprecedented success, breaking viewer ratings week after week and becoming a staple in pop culture. And their huge success continues as the leading stars, Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard land the cover of EMMY magazine. With its diverse cast, compelling storylines and infectious music (produced by Timbaland) EMPIRE has pushed the envelope and captured the nation by storm. But, before all of the fanfare and rave reviews, Terrance Howard admits in the beginning, he didn’t think people would accept it. He told the publication, "I didn't know that the American public was really ready to tackle some of these issues that we're tackling, especially the African-American population," Howard says. "With the homophobia that runs through there, I didn't think a lot of the scenes that we've had would be welcome. I thought 20 minutes in[to the first episode], by the time they had the first [same-sex] kiss, it would be a wrap. Everybody would change the channel." Well…he certainly was wrong…and likely doesn’t mind it. Ha! Breakout star Taraji P. Henson, who made history as the first black woman to receive the Critics' Choice Best Actress In A Drama Series Award, has been having an incredible year after debuting as the slick-mouth Cookie Lyon on the hip hopera. The YBF chick recalls the time her father predicted she would blow up like she is now, sitting at his bedside in the hospital right before he passed away from cancer. She said, "He was like, 'Baby, that ain't nothin'. You are going to be a sensation,'" the Empire star recounts now. "He was looking off into the distance, and I think he saw what was coming. "At the time, I was like, 'What you see? Shoot, I want to see it! Time went on, and I'm getting older. I ain't no spring chicken. I'm thinking, 'Maybe the Oscar [nod] was it.' Then [Empire] comes along, and it blows up, and it's like, 'Okay, Daddy, this is what you were talking about.' He saw this moment right here." Beautiful. This issue hits newsstands June 9th. We'll keep you posted on the Emmy noms once they are announced on July 16th.