Fox sets premiere dates for 'Empire,' 'American Idol'

Fox sets premiere dates for 'Empire,' 'American Idol'

Fox will kick off the new year with the debut of its midseason drama Empire and the return of American Idol.

American Idol will return with a two-night, three-hour event beginning Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. ET and continuing Thursday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. ET.

Following Idol on Wednesday at 9 p.m. will be the debut of Lee Daniels’ new drama Empire. The family drama with a hip-hop backdrops stars Terrence Howard as a music superstar with plans to take his company public.