Fox's surprise hit Empire has already featured some industry heavy-hitters in its two seasons including Chris Rock, Alicia Keys and Marisa Tomei. Rumors have been flying that Oprah Winfrey and Mariah Carey will also be making appearances, but unfortunately for fans of the show, co-creator Danny Strong has denied these in an interview at the Fox's winter press tour party, but did talk season 3 of the hit show.

"None of those people are going to actually be on the show so I can't control what names all of a sudden take off as being guest stars because they're not," Strong said to The Hollywood Reporter. Strong had reportedly told the publication in March that Winfrey had been contacted about appearing on the show, as well as Carey.

Back in August, fellow producer Lee Daniels told the crowd at Carey's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony that she would be making an appearance on Empire, saying, "Watch her on Empire, you guys. She's coming on Empire."

The rumors have circulated back and forth, and in September, Daniels said to Vanity Fair, "We just couldn't fit her into the schedule. She really wanted to do the show, but she's going to be on the next season for sure."

It isn't surprising that producers is still planning on fitting her in, and has collaborated with Winfrey and Carey in the past, as Winfrey appeared in 2013's Butler, and Carey was a featured actress in the 2009 film Precious.

Strong also said that season 3 is going to be much "lighter" on celebrity guest stars.

But nothing beats the sports culture that runs so rampant in the United States, and episode 6 of the hip-hop drama was postponed due to the World Series this past October. Postponing the episode left fans with a major cliffhanger before the episode "A High Hope For A Low Heaven" aired, waiting on the matchup between the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals.

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