James Corden on Grammy-Hosting Plans, Trump and Being the Lowest-Paid Host on Late-Night TV
Will the Grammys be … funny? Not so fast, cautions first-time host James Corden — but they will be fun, which he demonstrates as he riffs on Kanye West, Donald Trump and talks about whether he’s a Beyonce or an Adele.
Ahead of the 2017 Grammy Awards (which air live on CBS on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT), read his chat with Billboard below.
As a huge music fan, do you have a favorite Grammy moment?
This may be an odd choice because there are infinitely more important moments, but when Annie Lennox came onstage with Hozier two years ago. I’d forgotten how incredible she is because I hadn’t seen her sing for quite a while. In a world where there are so many music award shows, the Grammys is the one that provides you with those moments.
So it’s the Super Bowl of music award shows?
It’s the Super Bowl for people who’ve performed at halftime of the Super Bowl.
Since you’re hosting, I’m sure you can explain the difference between song of the year and record of the year.
Um, I could, but it’s a very deep question, which I will leave to The Recording Academy to answer. (Laughs.) I don’t know, mate.
Yeah, no one does. Is it better for the show if Kanye West wins awards, or better if he loses?
I always love when Kanye wins, because I’m a huge fan. I don’t know that he would interrupt someone’s speech again.
And if he does?
I’ll take him down. He will hit the floor quicker than he has ever known.
What was your first concert?
First concert I saw was a British boy band called Take That, when I was 14 or 15. I went with nine girls from school. No boys liked Take That, and it was weird if you did because they danced around and wore matching clothes. But I didn’t grow up with a dad who told me something was manly or not manly.
Are you more of an Adele or more of a Beyonce?
I know Adele quite well and she’s a good friend. So I’d probably say Adele, given that she’s from London. But when I dance, I look almost…
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