EXCLUSIVE: 'Empire' Star Jussie Smollett on Mariah Carey Collaboration: 'We Go Back Like Babies and Pacifiers'

'Empire' Star Jussie Smollett on His 'Incredible' Collaboration …

Carey Mulligan Gives Update on Baby No. 3 With Hubby Marcus Mumf…

Mariah Carey Reacts to Usher Super Bowl Halftime Show Appearance…

Nick Cannon and Abby De La Rosa Celebrate Their Daughter's Birth…

Watch A$AP Rocky Say His 2 Kids With Rihanna Are Their 'Best' Co…

Mariah Carey Reacts to Britney Spears' Comments About Her in Mem…

Khloé Kardashian’s Daughter True Naps During Mariah Carey’s Perf…

Mariah Carey's Twins Roc & Roe Share Sweet Moment Presenting Her…

Brenda Lee Wants to Know If Mariah Carey Loves Her Classic ‘Rock…

Travis Kelce on How His Romance With Taylor Swift Really Began

Shawn Mendes Strips Down to His Undies for Beach Day With 'Big B…

Selma Blair Reflects on Past Relationship With 'Comedic Genius' …

Nick Cannon on the Soul Train Awards Feeling ‘Like a Family Reun…

Eddie Murphy on Celebrating Christmas With His 10 Kids and If He…

Megan Fox Opens Up About Suffering Miscarriage With Machine Gun …

Michael J. Fox Responds to Late Matthew Perry Calling Him His Ac…

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce ‘Planning to Spend More Time Toget…

Meghan Markle Reacts to ‘Suits’ Reaching 45 Billion Watch Minute…

Michael Strahan Returns to ‘NFL Sunday’ as ‘GMA’ Absence Continu…
Mariah Carey will guest star on the upcoming third season of Empire, and Jussie Smollett is still gushing over his musical collaboration with the pop diva.
Smollett revealed to ET that not only did Carey sing with him for the show, but she also vocally produced the recording.
RELATED: Mariah Carey to Guest Star on 'Empire' -- Get All the Details!
"It was incredible!" Smollett said. "She landed at 1 a.m. She came into the studio. We were there until seven in the morning, and we just recorded the song, and it was incredible, and I love her. It's different getting to know someone that you love and respect and being able to work and do the work with that someone."
As a child of the '90s, Smollett grew up idolizing his generation's biggest vocalists, like Carey, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion.
"To be able to sing with any one of these incredible women just... it makes no sense," Smollett said.
WATCH: Mariah Carey Debunks the Most Persistent Rumors About Her
After working together, Smollett joked that now he and Carey "go back like babies and pacifiers" -- a reference to a line from Ol' Dirty Bastard's remix of Carey's "Fantasy." Not only was Smollett's collaboration with Carey a dream come true for him, it also scored the 33-year-old actor some cool points with his little brothers when Carey called him on his cell phone.
"She called and it said 'Mariah' and my brothers look at me like, 'Word?'" Smollett recalled. "Then I picked it up and she's like, 'Darling!' and they are like [gasp]."
In her guest role, Carey will play Kitty, a superstar who comes to Empire to collaborate with Jamal on an explosive new song. Carey told ET that the character will be "pretty glamorous," but will have more layers to offer.
RELATED: 12 Actors We Want to Reunite with Lee Daniels on 'Empire'
"I was like, 'Look, if I'm not going to have an amazing character arc, then why would we go on Empire?'" Carey said.
Empire returns to Fox for season three on Sept. 21.