THE LATE LATE SHOW

Adele’s ‘Carpool Karaoke’ Genuinely Surprised James Corden, Who Thought Another Artist Would Be The Final Guest

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We are now officially in the final week of The Late Late Show With James Corden. The departing host is making the last days of the show eventful, like with the emotional final “Carpool Karaoke” segment featuring Adele. An installment with Diddy aired days before that, and Corden says he thought that would be the final drive before Adele surprised him.

Corden was a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night (April 24) and he explained:

“I didn’t know it was happening. I thought our last one was… the last one was with Diddy. We shot that and I had a blast, had a great time, it was brilliant. And I thought, ‘Oh, that’s our last one, he’s someone we always wanted to do, it was great.’ And then I’m in bed one day and I get woken up by Adele smashing these cymbals above me as I’m asleep, and she said, ‘It’s your last ‘Carpool’ and I’m going to drive you to work.’

So it was all very… it was amazing and I love her so much for doing it because she didn’t have to do that. And she’s been… you know, I think it’s evident if anybody’s seen it that we’ve… we moved here a week apart, basically, we moved to LA a week apart, and it’s been an incredible journey for both of our families and I’ll always… I can’t believe she did that for me.”

Check out the interview above.

James Corden Reminisced About When ‘No One Would Do’ ‘Carpool Karaoke’ In The Early Days Of ‘The Late Late Show’

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Music superstars like Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, and Nicki Minaj, to name a few, all have had memorable appearances on The Late Late Show’s hilarious segment “Carpool Karaoke.” However, during the latest episode featuring Adele, host James Corden admitted that there was a time when no one would do the show, so he and the team scrambled to book talent.

This wasn’t the case for Adele, as the two are dear friends. The “Hello” singer was an early supporter of the show in 2016. When asked by the singer what he was the most afraid of when he decided to take the job, Corden confessed, “The thing I was most worried about was, ‘How do we get guests on the show.’”

“[In the beginning] we couldn’t book anyone. Then [segments] like ‘Carpool’ — I mean, no one would do it. Everyone on planet Earth said no. But then suddenly, Mariah Carey said, ‘Yes.’ So we’re buzzing, and she goes, ‘We’ll do it on Saturday.’” When the day finally arrived, Corden revealed that the “Shake It Off” singer told him that she would, ‘Do the chat, but I ain’t singing,’” because she had a long night the day before.

“My [producer] tells me, ‘Dude, you just have to get her to sing,’” said Corden. Eventually, Corden charmed the highly decorated songwriter to belt out some of her timeless tunes.

As for which episodes meant the most to him, Corden answered, “Stevie Wonder changed the [segment] a lot because when he did it, other artists were like, ‘Well, if Stevie Wonder’s done it, then I’ll do it.’” That episode was special to the host for another reason. During the ride, Wonder telephoned Corden’s wife Julia, nicknamed Jules, to sing to her.

The television host was sure to add that his first episode with the “Rolling In The Deep” singer also significantly impacted the show. “Our [first episode] because it broke all those records, I think seeing how many people watched that made artists like Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and people like that go, ‘Absolutely, I’ll do this.”

Watch the full video above.

Catch up on all of the previous “Carpool Karaoke” segments here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Diddy Had A Lot Of Sex Advice For James Corden On A New ‘Carpool Karaoke’

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Diddy Carpool Karaoke 2023 Late Late Show
YouTube

The Late Late Show With James Corden is quickly coming to an end, as the late-night program is set to wrap up on April 27. Before that, though, Corden is getting some more “Carpool Karaoke” segments under his (seat)belt. Over the past month or so, he’s done installments with Bad Bunny, Lil Nas X, Blackpink, and on yesterday’s (April 20) episode, Diddy. During their drive, Diddy had plenty to say about how Corden should approach sex.

(There appears to be an issue with embedding the video at the moment, but it can still be watched on YouTube.)

Between songs, the conversation got to Diddy’s latest child, his seventh. Corden asked how Diddy came to have yet another child, and Diddy explained it’s because he got back into music and producing R&B again. He went on to note that for love-making purposes, he made a playlist of ’90s songs, describing it as “the Super Bowl of R&B.”

Corden then broke down how he thought he should set the scene, saying, “I go home, I light a candle…” Diddy cut him off, interjecting, “You got to put the red light on, no candle. It may burn down the place.” He also encouraged a phone-free, “off-the-grid” environment during the build-up to intercourse.

At that point is when Diddy encouraged the use of his playlist. This conversation went on for several minutes, and throughout, Diddy painted a detailed picture about how to create a sensual romantic environment.

Check out the video above or here.

Here Is Every Artist That Went On ‘Carpool Karaoke’

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james corden carpool karaoke
Getty Image/Derrick Rossignol

On March 23, 2015, The Late Late Show With James Corden debuted on CBS. Quickly, the show found something that made a significant cultural impact: Days after the show premiered, on March 26, James Corden got in a car, Mariah Carey sat down next to him, and the two drove around while chatting and singing along with Carey’s hits.

That was the first “Carpool Karaoke” segment, which has created some memorable music moments over the past eight years. Adele rapping Nicki Minaj’s “Monster” verse has gone down in pop/hip-hop lore. Paul McCartney’s turn in the passenger seat made Corden cry and was expanded to an hour-long special. Even Michelle Obama got in on the fun.

Now, though, the drive is coming to an end: The final episode of Corden’s The Late Late Show is set for April 28. So, Corden will no longer need help getting to work, as is the supposed reason why he gets the world’s biggest musicians to ride around and do silly things with him.

All told, a few dozen artists managed to get in on the fun, so we’ve rounded up a full list (as compiled by Wikipedia) of everybody who’s ever had the honor of participating in the beloved segment.

Check out the chronological list of segments (parts of which link to Uproxx’s previous coverage) below. To watch the segments, find the official “Carpool Karaoke” YouTube playlist here.

2015

2016

2017

2018

  • Christina Aguilera featuring Melissa McCarthy (April 23)
  • Christina Aguilera (May 16)
  • Adam Levine (May 24)
  • Shawn Mendes (June 4)
  • Paul McCartney (June 21)
  • Ariana Grande (August 16)
  • Michael Bublé (October 26)
  • Barbra Streisand (November 1)
  • Migos (November 13)
  • Cardi B (December 17)
  • “‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ Carpool Karaoke” featuring Michael Bublé, Cardi B, Paul McCartney, Shawn Mendes, Barbra Streisand, Migos, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Ariana Grande (December 20)

2019

2020

2021

  • The cast of Friends (June 17)
  • Camila Cabello, Billy Porter, and Idina Menzel (September 9)

2022

2023

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Bad Bunny Had The Pleasure Of Putting James Corden In A Headlock On ‘Carpool Karaoke’

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James Corden has made The Late Late Show a cultural staple since taking over the late-night program in 2015. The experience hasn’t been entirely positive, though, as it sure looks like a lot of people hate Corden. He certainly didn’t earn himself public favor last year with joke-stealing accusations and the infamous restaurant situation. So, on the latest “Carpool Karaoke” segment, Bad Bunny got to do something it seems a lot of people wish they had the chance to try: put Corden in a headlock.

Bad Bunny has a strong connection to WWE, and towards the end of “Carpool Karaoke,” that conversation topic came up. So, Bunny and Corden took to a wrestling ring, in which Bunny showed Corden some moves, including a headlock, a camel clutch, and more. Wrestling legend Rey Mysterio also made a surprise appearance and helped Corden develop a more intimidating wrestling attitude.

Bad Bunny is one of the last “Carpool Karaoke” guests before Corden leaves The Late Late Show, as his final episode is set for April 28. That last show will be preceded by a prime-time special, The Last Last Late Late Show. While Bunny is as of now the final confirmed “Carpool Karaoke” guest, given how important the segment has been to Corden, it feels likely there will be some sort of new installment in the special and/or the finale.

Watch Bad Bunny’s “Carpool Karaoke” above.

Bad Bunny Will Be One Of The Final ‘Carpool Karaoke’ Guests Before James Corden’s ‘The Late Late Show’ Ends

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It looks like Bad Bunny is finally blessing us with a “Carpool Karaoke” segment. Today (March 10), The Late Late Show With James Corden shared a preview of an upcoming segment featuring the Puerto Rican superstar.

In the clip, Bad Bunny is introduced as “The biggest streaming artist in the world.” Corden and Bad Bunny are then seen singing along to the latter’s hit single, “Tití Me Preguntó.”

Bad Bunny’s “Carpool Karaoke” segment will air on this Tuesday’s (March 14) episode of The Late Late Show, at 12:37 a.m. ET. It’s coming just in time, too, as Corden’s last episode of The Late Late Show is set for April 28, so who knows how many “Carpool Karaoke” segments Corden has left before the show wraps up.

Last year proved to be eventful for Bad Bunny. His fourth studio album, Un Verano Sin Ti, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and boasted several hits, like “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Moscow Mule,” “Me Porto Bonito,” and “Despues De La Playa.” The album was nominated for two Grammy awards, including the coveted Album Of The Year award, as well as the Best Música Urbana Album. He won the latter of those, and in his acceptance speech, Bad Bunny said that the album was a result of pure passion.

“I just made it, this album, with love and passion,” he said, “and when you do things with love and passion, everything is easier, and life is easier.”

Check out a preview above.

Lizzo Does ‘Carpool Karaoke’ To Sing Beyoncé And Reflect On Her Influence: ‘She’s Been My North Star’

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Weeks away from her upcoming second major-label album, Special, Lizzo stopped by The Late Late Show With James Corden for the show’s “Carpool Karaoke” segment.

Lizzo and Corden kicked off the karaoke session with a performance of her hit single, “Good As Hell,” which was released in 2016 but reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019. Later, the two sang “Juice” from Lizzo’s 2019 major-label debut album, Cuz I Love You. Corden then surprised Lizzo, a well-trained flautist, by pulling out a flute from the back seat. Lizzo, who has been playing flute since she was 12, then shows off her flute skills. Lizzo that she calls her own flute “Sasha Floot,” named after her fellow Houstonian Beyoncé’s alter-ego, Sasha Fierce.

“When I was shy, or when I didn’t think I was cool, and when I was getting picked on, I would listen to Beyoncé in my bedroom, and it would transport me,” Lizzo said. “I would feel something. I would feel like my life is going to be better. There’s hope for me. When I dropped out of college and I was really depressed, I listened to [Beyoncé’s sophomore album] B’day on repeat. I would just sing B’day all the time, and I was like, ‘I’m gonna be a singer, I’m gonna be a singer.’ The way she makes people is how I want to make people feel with music. She’s been my north star.”

The two then sing Beyoncé’s hit single, “Crazy In Love.”

Other high points in the episode include Lizzo previewing the album’s title track, before she revealed that she grew up in The Church Of God In Christ and wasn’t allowed to listen to secular music growing up.

“Would you have been allowed to listen to Lizzo’s music?” asked Corden

“Early on Lizzo, yes,” Lizzo replied. “But when Lizzo started cussing, no. I’ve pissed a few family members off.”

Toward the end of the episode, the two perform Lizzo’s most recent hit single, “About Damn Time.” They are later joined in the park by Jaeden Gomez, who created the song’s TikTok dance, as well as a large group of people, creating a flash mob.

Check out the full segment above.

Special is out 7/15 via Atlantic. Pre-save it here.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Ed Sheeran, And Joe Biden Will Appear On Upcoming ‘Corden’ Episodes From London

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Corden Biden Eilish Lizzo
Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

With James Corden announcing in April that he will be leaving The Late Late Show in 2023, the talk show host is pulling out all the stops in his final season. For a slate of episodes filmed in the UK that will air next week, guests on the show include Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Ed Sheeran, and President Joe Biden (as Variety notes). The shows will be broadcast from London’s Freemason’s Hall and these aren’t just your typical “sit down and chat” type of appearances for the illustrious guests.

For his “Take A Break” segment, Corden is going to fill in as an assistant of sorts to Biden, Lizzo is set to do a new “Carpool Karaoke” segment, and hilarity will surely ensue. Other guests on the upcoming slate of episodes include Star Wars actor John Boyega, singers Sam Smith and Alanis Morissette, Thor’s Tessa Thompson, David Harbour from Stranger Things, and Vin freakin’ Diesel.

It’s all set to air from Tuesday, June 28th to Friday, July 1st in its normal 12:37 a.m. timeslot on CBS (or on the Sky Comedy channel if you find yourself in the UK).

Some of the artists mentioned here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Years After Adele’s Legendary Cover, Nicki Minaj Finally Returns The Favor On ‘Carpool Karaoke’

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Last night, James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke” segment returned to The Late Late Show after a two-year hiatus. Fans were elated to see Nicki Minaj as the first guest upon the segment’s return. During her slot, Minaj and Corden ran through her hits, including “Anaconda,” “Super Bass,” and “Starships.”

In true Minaj fashion, the rapper at one point spoke to Corden in a British accent, explaining that her music is “motivational speaking for the world.”

Corden tells her she sounds like Adele and asks if she’s seen the “Easy On Me” singer’s episode of “Carpool Karaoke” in which she raps Minaj’s verse of her Kanye West collaboration, “Monster.”

“I just loved it,” Minaj said of Adele’s 2016 segment. “She made me so, so happy. She embodied Nicki Minaj.”

The screen then cuts to Minaj rapping along to “Monster” as Adele’s 2016 clip appears on a split-screen. Corden and Minaj then proceed to sing Adele’s “Someone Like You,” Minaj showing off her vocal chops.

After bringing Adele’s “Monster” recreation full circle six years after the fact, Corden and Minaj rap along to Minaj’s collaboration with Coi Leray, “Blick Blick.”

“Pop up on an opp and watch it blick blick,” the two rap, before Minaj asks Corden “You have opps?” Corden replies “I don’t know what we’re talking about… what does opps mean? Opportunities?”

“Opposition,” Minaj explains. “Anybody that is opposing you in the world.”

Speaking of opps, Minaj revealed her struggles with anxiety, which, in part, is linked to criticism from her “opps” in real life.

“I don’t think it’s natural,” Minaj said. It’s not natural for a human being to always feel like everyone’s critiquing them. When I first came into the industry, I had this amazing sense of freedom, because nobody gave a sh*t about what I was doing. I could get away with doing anything and they’re just like, ‘Oh, haha! Nicki Minaj.’ And then it goes from that to the complete opposite where it’s like, if I blink my eye wrong, they’ll have a story made up about why I’ve blinked my eye that way.”

Later in the segment, Corden pulls out a clarinet from the backseat of the car. He asks Minaj, who played clarinet in middle school and high school, “Do you still got it?” Minaj then plays the theme to Jaws, and then the ad-libs to her 2018 hit “Chun Li.”

Check out the full video above.

Nicki Minaj Does An Awesome Adele Impression, Returning The Favor After Adele’s Legendary ‘Monster’ Rap

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James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke” segment on The Late Late Show has produced some memorable music moments over the years. Perhaps the most beloved among them is when Adele rapped Nicki Minaj’s verse from Kanye West’s “Monster,” a viral moment that helped the Adele “Carpool Karaoke” episode become easily the most-watched video on the Late Late Show YouTube channel, with over 252 million views as of today. Well, Minaj was on Corden last night, and while there, she returned the favor by showing of her impression of Adele.

The two re-watched Adele’s rap and then Minaj offered a reaction, saying, “First of all, It’s Adele. Second of all, it’s ‘Monster.’ You guys made such an amazing freaking tag team, by the way. I never got to tell you that. That made my day, my year. I probably got a thousand phone calls about that one thing.”

Corden then asked Minaj what her Adele impersonation sounds like, and Minaj replied by doing an Adele voice and explaining her thought process behind achieving the nuanced impression:

“Alright, in order for me to channel Adele, I sort of have to think like a Black lady in London, right? Because the thing is, normally, everybody knows, my British accent is sort of like a posh white lady, a rich white lady, right? But with Adele, I sort of have to, like, transform, like she might have used to sell crack. Like maybe she used to be hustling, like nickels and dimes in the hood, and then she got her big break. That’s what I see when I see her, like she’s always… it’s so expressive, right?”

Minaj was all over The Late Late Show last night, so check out the Adele bit above and other clips from the show below.