An unofficial guide to EMPIRE, the runaway hit of the 2014-15 television season.

Empire is the breakout, network television hit of 2015—from its opening night, viewers were riveted by the story of record company magnate Lucious Lyon and his family, and the struggle for control over Empire Entertainment. As the second season approaches this September, Empire: The Unauthorized Untold Story tells you everything you need to know about this powerful drama. You’ll get full backgrounds on all the major players, including the real-life entertainment icons on whom their stories are based. You’ll learn about the music and fashions that helped drive the show’s success. And you’ll get a hint of what the second season might hold as show creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong prepare to build on their phenomenal opening act.