Taraji P. Henson to guest-star on Abbott Elementary as Janine's mom

Cookie Lyon is headed to Abbott.

Empire star Taraji P. Henson will guest-star in an upcoming episode of Abbott Elementary as Janine's (Quinta Brunson) estranged mother Vanetta. Henson shared the news Saturday in a video message recorded for PaleyFest in Los Angeles. She'll appear in season 2's penultimate April 12 episode, titled "Mom," following Ayo Edebiri's cameo as Janine's sister Ayesha earlier this season.

"You already met her sister, so why not make it a family affair?" Henson said. "I can't share too many details with you, so you'll have to tune in to ABC April 12, but I can guarantee you that it is going to be a riot."

She added that she's been a fan of the Emmy-winning hit sitcom since day one. "I'm so proud of Quinta, and I was excited to join her and the amazing cast."

Steven Ferdman/Getty for CultureCon Taraji P. Henson

Stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James Wiliams, and William Stanford Davis attended the festival in person for a panel to discuss the sitcom, while Janelle James and Chris Perfetti dialed in via Zoom from New York. Brunson was absent due to her Saturday Night Live hosting duties this weekend, but she had a pretaped message for attendees that was played at the event.

Abbott Elementary returns from its brief hiatus April 5. Henson's episode will air April 12, with the season finale coming April 19. Other memorable guest stars this season have included Lauren Weedman, Leslie Odom Jr., Orlando Jones, and Keyla Monterroso Mejia.

Following Henson's big reveal, the show's official Twitter account shared a behind-the-scenes photo of the star with Brunson.

Along with her Golden Globe–winning role as Cookie Lyon on the Fox drama Empire, Henson's credits include Hustle & Flow, Hidden Figures, Think Like a Man, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and the animated films Minions: The Rise of Gru and Ralph Breaks the Internet. She'll next appear in the movie musical adaptation of The Color Purple.

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