Exclusive: Watch Courtney Love Lament in New ‘Empire’ Song
Last Wednesday, Courtney Love made her debut appearance on Empire as Elle Dallas, a fading star who had built Empire Entertainment as the first successful artist signed to the label. After taking on Al Green’s “Take Me to the River,” Rolling Stone has an exclusive clip of the singer’s next performance: an original, soulful song titled “Walk Out on Me.” The song will appear on the original soundtrack from Season One of Empire, out March 10th but available for pre-order now.
Dallas’ storyline centers on her relationship with Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), as the latter becomes responsible for helping rehabilitate the former’s career and life in the face of addiction and lack of inspiration. During the performance of “Walk Out on Me,” Cookie looks on as Dallas gives an emotional performance at a label showcase. “Don’t look at me that way / Like you know it’s going to end,” Love sings. “‘Cause I’m too tired to be honest / And I’m too hurt to pretend.”
“Back in the day, I wouldn’t play rock stars,” Love told The Hollywood Reporter. “I got offered a lot of [those] parts, and I turned them down, but it’s a new time, and it’s a new dawn, and I’m really committed to doing this full-time whether it be theater or television or film.”
Since its January debut, Empire has proven itself to be a massive breakout for Fox. According to Entertainment Weekly, it’s the first show in more than 23 years to grow in total viewers over its first five episodes and has already been renewed for a second season.