Jussie Smollett Calls the Music in New Film ‘The Lost Holliday’ ‘Very Special’

Musician and actor Jussie Smollett, who previously starred on Empire, is back with a new project called The Lost Holliday. Opening Friday (Sept. 27) in select AMC Theatres nationwide, Smollett’s latest acting, writing, directorial and production pursuit finds him teaming with the film’s star Vivica A. Fox in a story about family dynamics involving a same-gender-loving couple and the importance of acceptance. Portraying the character Cassandra Marshall, Fox plays mother-in-law to Smollett’s character, Jason Holliday.

Produced by A SuperMassive Movie, MegaMind Media and Monami Entertainment, The Lost Holliday also features new music penned by Smollett. In addition to recently released single “My Mind,” an accompanying soundtrack is on the way. “The music in this film is really very special,” Smollett tells Billboard in a new interview. 

Expanding further on the connection between writing music and screenplays, Smollett adds,  “I’ve been so blessed and a little lucky to be able to do certain projects that just so happen to have a musical component; particularly, obviously Empire,” Smollett shares. “That was just a perfect kind of marriage of so many of my loves. Music has always been the driving force behind everything I do.” 

Calling his breakthrough on Empire “the juggernaut that changed the trajectory of my life,” Smollett goes on to note the show “really was a great education for the music business: the good and the bad.” 

The multi-hyphenate, who made his film directorial debut with 2021’s B-Boy Blues, touches on several other topics as well, such as working with Fox, his next solo album and mental health in the wake of legal issues he’s faced. “I used to pray for humility every single day,” he says. “I still do. But I pray for discernment this time too.”