Late Late Show host James Corden wants us to celebrate the holidays, and he’s brought some of pop music’s finest to join him. Cruising the streets of Los Angeles in his SUV, Corden invited Carrie Underwood, Stevie Wonder, Justin Bieber, Iggy Azalea, Jason Derulo, Rod Stewart, and One Direction to help him sing Joy to the World.
Corden begins the video, simply entitled “Christmas Carpool Karaoke,” by telling Late Late Show bandleader Reggie Watts that Christmas music is his favorite thing about the upcoming holiday. “We probably don’t have a way of experiencing that,” replies Watts. “But it’s cool to think about.” Corden and Watts then turn on the radio and the duo helm a cut-and-pasted together version of the Christmas hit featuring many special guests.
Bieber sets off the star-studded rendition of Joy to the World. His appearance caps off a comeback year for the 22 year-old pop star, as he works towards turning his life around after some recent run-ins with the law. This year also saw the release of the Bieb’s chart-topping record Purpose.
Other highlights include Iggy Azalea’s freestyle Christmas-themed rap and joyful harmonies from soul legend Stevie Wonder and American Idol winner-turned-country artist Carrie Underwood. Meanwhile, members of One Direction catch a peek at a couple “snogging on the curb” as the British host puts it.
The three-minute video certainly has its strange moments, including Corden and Iggy Azalea donning wedding gowns for their scene, Rod Stewart showing up intermittently with jazz hands, and Reggie Watts head-banging to the Christmas tune.
The video is a compilation of cuts that Corden’s recorded throughout the year for his Carpool Karaoke segments, according to Billboard. Catch new episodes of The Late Late Show with James Corden weeknights.
