Honestly, if you weren't watching Fox on Wednesday nights back in late 2016, you missed one of the most chaotic, musically charged, and polarizing pilots in network history. Lee Daniels didn't just want another Empire. He wanted something grittier. He wanted Star.
The star cast season 1 lineup wasn't just a group of actors; it was a high-stakes experiment in blending legendary icons with complete unknowns. You had Queen Latifah—an absolute titan—sharing scenes with Jude Demorest, a girl who, at the time, most people couldn't pick out of a lineup. It felt risky. It felt unpolished. And that’s exactly why it worked.
People often confuse the "cast" with just the three girls in the group, but the ecosystem of season 1 was way more complex than that. It wasn't just about three girls wanting to be famous. It was about foster care trauma, trans identity in the South, and the literal ghosts of the 1990s R&B scene.
The Core Trio: More Than Just "Big Trouble"
Before they were Take 3, they were Big Trouble. The chemistry between the three leads had to be flawless, or the show would have folded in three episodes.
Jude Demorest (Star Davis)
Demorest played the namesake character with a chip on her shoulder the size of Georgia. Star was tough. Maybe too tough for some viewers. She was a white girl who grew up in the Black foster care system, and the show didn't shy away from the friction that caused. She was ambitious to a fault, even trying to seduce a legendary rock star (played by Lenny Kravitz) just to get a track produced.
🔗 Read more: Did Mac Miller Like Donald Trump? What Really Happened Between the Rapper and the President
Brittany O’Grady (Simone Davis)
Simone was the soul of the show. While Star was the fire, Simone was the one dealing with the heavy-duty PTSD after Star rescued her from an abusive foster father (Otis Leecan, played by Darius McCrary) in the very first episode. O'Grady's performance was twitchy, vulnerable, and heartbreakingly real.
Ryan Destiny (Alexandra Crane)
Destiny brought the "bougie" element. Alexandra was the daughter of rock royalty, living a lie to try and make it on her own merit. Her conflict wasn't about where her next meal was coming from; it was about escaping the shadow of her father, Roland Crane.
The Legends Who Held It Together
You can't talk about the star cast season 1 without bowing down to the veterans. Without them, the show might have spiraled into pure melodrama.
- Queen Latifah (Carlotta Brown): She owned every frame. Carlotta ran "God's Blessings Beauty Salon" and acted as the surrogate mother to the girls. Her backstory with the girls' late mother, Mary Davis, provided the emotional anchor for the entire season.
- Benjamin Bratt (Jahil Rivera): Bratt played a washed-up talent manager with a cocaine habit and a mountain of debt. He was the "villain" you kind of wanted to see win, mostly because he truly believed in the girls' talent, even if he was exploiting them.
- Amiyah Scott (Cotton Brown): This was a massive moment for TV. Scott, a trans woman herself, played Carlotta’s daughter. Her storyline—navigating her transition while her mother struggled to accept her—was arguably the most modern and necessary part of the show.
Why the Music Actually Mattered
A lot of musical dramas fail because the songs are forgettable. Star didn't have that problem. In season 1, the music supervisor was Jennifer Ross, and they had heavy hitters like Missy Elliott (who guest-starred as Pumpkin) and even Jussie Smollett crossing over from Empire.
💡 You might also like: Despicable Me 2 Edith: Why the Middle Child is Secretly the Best Part of the Movie
The track "I Bring Me" became an instant anthem. It wasn't just a pop song; it was a statement of identity for Star’s character. Then you had "Unlove You," which showed off the group's harmonies. They weren't just lip-syncing; they were building a brand that felt like it could actually exist on the Billboard charts.
The Grit Most People Forget
If you rewatch season 1 today, it’s surprisingly dark. We’re talking about a pilot where a girl stabs a man to save her sister. We’re talking about human trafficking subplots and police brutality protests.
The star cast season 1 had to navigate these heavy themes while wearing sequins and performing at "Atlanta NextFest." It was a weird balance. Sometimes it felt like two different shows fighting for airtime. You’d have a high-fashion musical fantasy sequence one minute, and a brutal scene about drug addiction the next.
Guest Stars That Shook the Room
Season 1 was packed with cameos that actually moved the plot:
📖 Related: Death Wish II: Why This Sleazy Sequel Still Triggers People Today
- Lenny Kravitz: Played Alexandra's father, Roland. He brought a legitimate "cool" factor to the show.
- Naomi Campbell: As Rose Spencer-Crane, Alexandra's alcoholic mother. She was terrifying and elegant all at once.
- Tyrese Gibson: Played Pastor Bobby Harris. His relationship with Carlotta highlighted the tension between the church and the LGBTQ+ community.
- Gladys Knight: Appearing as herself, she gave the girls a "blessing" that felt like a passing of the torch.
What Really Happened with the Production?
Behind the scenes, the show was a whirlwind. Lee Daniels has been open about the fact that Star was a more personal story for him than Empire. He wanted to show the "come up"—the part where you're broke, sleeping on a salon floor, and desperate for a break.
The cast had to undergo intense "star boot camp." They weren't just learning lines; they were recording albums and learning complex choreography. Jude, Brittany, and Ryan spent more time in the recording studio than on set some weeks.
The Lasting Impact of Season 1
Critics were mixed. Some thought it was "trashy TV," while others praised its boldness. Honestly? It was a bit of both. It was "ghetchet" (ghetto + ratchet) in the best way possible. It gave a voice to characters we rarely saw on network television in 2016.
By the time the season 1 finale "Showtime" aired, the group had won NextFest, but at a massive cost. Jahil was in trouble, Cotton was in jail, and the sisters were more fractured than ever. It set the stage for a second season that went even bigger, but many fans still point to the raw, unpolished energy of season 1 as the show's peak.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators:
- Watch for the Fantasy Sequences: Season 1 uses musical numbers to represent the characters' internal dreams. If a scene looks too "perfect" or "glossy," it's usually happening in their heads.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: Tracks like "Break Yo Chest" and "Man" are still staples of the R&B/Pop crossover genre from that era.
- Look at the Careers Today: Ryan Destiny and Brittany O'Grady have gone on to huge things. Watching them in Star is like watching a time capsule of their "discovery" phase.
If you're looking to dive back in, start with the pilot. Pay attention to the way the camera moves in the salon. It feels alive. It feels like Atlanta. The star cast season 1 didn't just play characters; they built a world that felt like it was breathing right alongside you.