Although Lucious pressures Cookie to take it easy, she can’t help but take matters into her own hands when she receives unsettling news about an old friend. Meanwhile, Tiana’s new 20 for 20 single takes off, leading to an unexpected change in her demeanor. Also, Jamal struggles to rebrand his image, Hakeem adopts a new role as musical mentor and Andre recruits Lucious to help him uncover the truth about Eddie’s intentions in the all-new “Of Hardiness is Mother” episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, April 18 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (EMP-413) (TV-14 D, L, S, V)

Cast: Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Bryshere ‘Yazz’ Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams, Serayah as Tiana Brown, Ta’Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor, Andre Royo as Thurston “Thirsty” Rawlings, Rumer Willis as Tory Ash, and Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner as ‘Shine Johnson.

Guest Cast: Ptosha Storey as Chyna, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Poundcake and James Colby as Burleson, Claudette Burchett as Juanita, Mary Ernster as Joyce, Erica Faye Watson as Ruth, Ryan Michelle Bathe as Celeste, Kevin Banas as Armando, Chester Marlon Hanks as Blake, Raj Bond as Calvin Moore and Paolo Nieddu as Paolo.

Alfre Woodard (“True Blood,” “Desperate Housewives”) and Forest Whitaker (“Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior,” “The Last King of Scotland”) Guest-Star

Lucious and Thirsty try to squash Eddie’s (guest star Forest Whitaker) takeover by confronting him with legal papers. Cookie recalls her complex relationship with her mother (guest star Alfre Woodard), while she continues her search for her friend’s orphaned daughter. Meanwhile, Andre flounders, Hakeem anxiously prepares a release strategy for his 20 for 20 single and Jamal and Tory try to find a new team to make their own first non-Empire single in the all-new “False Face” episode of EMPIRE airing Wednesday, April 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (EMP-414) (TV-14 D, L, S)

Cast: Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Bryshere ‘Yazz’ Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Grace Byers as Annika Calhoun, Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams, Serayah as Tiana Brown, Ta’Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor, Andre Royo as Thurston “Thirsty” Rawlings, Rumer Willis as Tory Ash, and Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner as ‘Shine Johnson, Daimon Terrel Carter as Warren DuBois

Guest Cast: Kevin ‘Webb’ Wigfall as Webb, Tasha Smith as Carol, Ashley Livingston as Chicken, Claudette Burchett as Juanita, Forest Steven Whitaker as Eddie Barker, Chet Hanks as Blake, Kade Wise as Preacher, Rhyon Nicole Brown as Maya, Alfre Woodard as Renee, April Qualls as April, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Poundcake, Sara Sevigny as Edna, Will Kinear as Leonard Bernstein, Porscha Coleman as Mercedes, Kelly Owens as Monique, Marcell Johnson as Marcel, Charles Malik Whitfield as Reverend L.C. Pryce, Nicole Ari Parker as Giselle, Ryan MIchelle Bathe as Celeste, Jenna Scaccia as Ana, Diandre Blue as Diandre Blue