| BESSIESMITH | American singer nicknamed the "Empress of the Blues" |
| GLADYSKNIGHT | American singer nicknamed the Empress of Soul, whose backing group was The Pips (6,6) |
| BESSIE | ____ Smith, U.S. blues singer born in 1894 nicknamed the 'Empress of the Blues' (6) |
| SMITH | Bessie known as the "Empress of the Blues" |
| KNIGHT | Gladys, nicknamed The Empress of Soul (6) |
| MARAINEY | American singer nicknamed the "Mother of the Blues" (2,6) |
| SINATRA | American singer nicknamed The Chairman Of The Board, Frank ... |
| ARETHA | Miss Franklin, American singer nicknamed the "Queen of Soul" (6) |
| TAMMY | --- Wynette, 20th-Century American singer nicknamed the 'First Lady of Country Music' (5) |
| VICTORIA | Historical drama series about the early rule of the Empress of India |
| STYE | Eyesore, the east wing on the Empress of Blandings' place? |
| MAKEAPIGOFONESELF | Take lots of courses to resemble the Empress of Blandings? |
| AYUMIHAMASAKI | Singer known as the "Empress of J-pop" |
| GLADYS | US singer known as the 'Empress of Soul' |
| PORCINE | Long to win gold cup at the inauguration... a la the Empress of Blandings (7) |
| OINK | Remark by the Empress of Blandings |
| OPAL | The Empress of Australia, e.g. |
| BLANDINGS | Prize pig, The Empress of - (P.G. Wodehouse) |
| SOUL | The Empress of ___ (nickname for Gladys Knight) |
| STY | Home for the Empress of Blandings, perhaps (3) |
