{blackbabes} Jennifer Hudson and Rita Ora Are Coming to Empire!

Jennifer Hudson, Taraji P. Henson, Empire, Rita Ora

The Empire just keeps growing stronger...This time, with some A-list names!

Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and superstar singer Rita Ora, who's set to make her acting debut in Fifty Shades of Grey, have been cast as guest stars on Fox's hip-hop breakout hit, E! News has learned.

No details have been released yet regarding their roles (chances are, they are playing themslves), but sources tell us that both ladies will be appearing on the Fox drama before the first season ends.

We are also told that producers reached out to Iggy Azalea and tried to make a guest spot work, but the scheduling wouldn't allow it. Fox doesn't comment on casting rumors.

Empire is the clear standout among winter TV premieres so far, growing its audience each week and averaging more than 10 million viewers. The show's premise—Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson starring as music-production moguls—lends itself to some big name guest stars, and sources confirm that more than a few A-listers have asked producers to gome on the series.

Although rumors were also swirling today that Sean "Diddy" Combs "banned" his adopted son, Quincy, 23, from appearing on Empire because of a dispute over music rights, insiders tell E! News that Quincy was never actually offered a role, and there was no music-rights dispute.

The fiercely addictive TV drama, created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, is getting rave reviews from critics and fans alike...So chances are, this will hardly be the last we're hearing of A-list casting.

Did you know Wesley Snipes was almost Lucious? And that Taraji improvs some of her crazy lines? Check out our 15 Epic Facts About Empire.