James Corden spoke out to share how they actually filmed Carpool Karaoke and it's not what you'd expect
Published on Feb 04, 2026 at 4:30 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Feb 04, 2026 at 4:30 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Late-night host James Corden spoke out to explain how the beloved feature Carpool Karaoke- where celebs sing while being driven around – was filmed after some speculation online, and it’s not what you’d expect.
For years, the whole bit looked like a totally normal drive with a pop megastar, a playlist, and Corden trying his best not to miss a turn while belting the chorus.
Then, one behind-the-scenes photo did the rounds and made people feel like the magic had been exposed.
Corden eventually addressed it on The Late Late Show, and his explanation was way more practical than dramatic.
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James Corden spoke out against the naysayers
The rumors kicked off after a picture surfaced showing Corden and Justin Bieber apparently being towed in their car during a Carpool Karaoke shoot, with people thinking that this was the case with all celebrities who took part.
The picture sent the internet into meltdown and sparked the idea that the whole segment was basically smoke and mirrors, with the late-night chat show host just pretending to drive.

Corden said he did drive the car, but there were rare exceptions when safety was a concern.
He explained that if they are doing something that could be risky, like a dance routine, a costume change, or anything that could distract the driver, they will make adjustments.
In Justin Bieber’s case, he said it was specifically a safety decision, so towing was the smarter option, because he kept getting lost in the singer’s beautiful eyes.

He also joked that the vast majority of the time, around 95 percent of the trips, he really was driving, and even teased that he deserves credit for doing it while being used to driving on the other side of the road.
He even said, “I swear to you, 95 percent of the time I really am endangering the lives of the world’s biggest pop stars, OK?”

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How they actually filmed Carpool Karaoke
Corden leaned into the bigger point that when it comes to television, not everything is as literal as it looks.
He pointed out that The Late Late Show didn’t actually tape after midnight, that the team films earlier and sells the late-night vibe anyway.
He also admitted the segment wasn’t really about getting him to work, because a lot of the time he was already there, so, as with a lot of TV, it’s entertainment first, realism second.

So yes, the car was real, the singing was real, and most of the driving was real too.
But when safety or logistics got in the way, they did whatever kept everyone in one piece, even if it ruined the illusion for a few minutes online.
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As a Content Writer since January 2025, Daisy’s focus is on writing stories on topics spanning the entirety of the website. As well as writing about EVs, the history of cars, tech, and celebrities, Daisy is always the first to pitch the seed of an idea to the audience editor team, who collab with her to transform it into a fully informative and engaging story.