James Corden Says He'll 'Always be Grateful' for Mariah Carey, Why He Owes Her for Success of 'Late Late Show'

James Corden opened up about the special gratitude that he has for Mariah Carey.

The 45-year-old former late-night host recently took part in SiriusXM’s “Guest DJ” campaign and took over the 90s on 9 channel.

During his guest spot, he played solid-gold hits from the likes of Mariah and Celine Dion. One of those songs was “Always Be My Baby,” by Mariah.

He explained why the song had special meaning to him and whyMariah was somewhat responsible for his late-night career.

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James said that “Always Be My Baby” was “the first ever song to be played in the first-ever Carpool Karaoke that I did on my old show, The Late Late Show.”

He continued, recalling, “And it was an amazing moment for me. It was amazing in a lot of ways because we got there and I don’t think Mariah Carey had been told what she was doing or why she was doing it, given it was a show she didn’t know existed, hosted by someone she’d never heard of before. And she walked out of her house – I remember she had big sunglasses on and like a spearmint-colored sort of leather jacket – and she looked at me and she said, ‘I ain’t gonna sing today, baby. Okay? So we’ll just chat in the car,’ and walked off and got in the car.”

The This Life of Mine host admitted to feeling that this would “spoil” the concept of karaoke. However, his director urged him to keep going.

“And this was the first song played. And God bless her for joining in. Had she not joined in, I don’t think The Late Late Show would’ve stayed on air, and I certainly don’t think I’d be sat here talking to you right now. I will always be grateful to her,” he said.

Find out three guests that James always wanted to get on Carpool Karaoke.

Revisit James Corden and Mariah Carey’s first Carpool Karaoke below…