James Corden "George Michael inspired Carpool Karaoke"

The Late Late Show with James Corden returned from holiday with a new show last night. Corden’s opening monologue was about the passing of music icon, George Michael, and their history together.

“I went back to London over Christmas and had the best time. But there was some really sad news over Christmas that hit me really hard…the passing away of George Michael.”

In 2011, George Michael met with James Corden to do a sketch to for BBC – Comic Relief charity event called “Red Nose Day“.

This sketch turned in to “Carpool Karaoke” in 2015 when Corden took over hosting duties of The Late Late Show. He says that it was difficult to get celebrities into the idea of cruising around aimlessly while singing random songs for mass consumption so he would send clips of the sketch he and George did together in 2011.

Corden says the first person to see the clip and agree to do a “Carpool Karaoke” bit was Mariah Carey.

“Her words were, ‘If it’s good enough for George, then it’s good enough for me. I’ll do it.'”