Carpool Karaoke, the segment on James Corden’s Late Late Show, is a conceit that’s generally annoyed me, seemingly tailored to show off Corden’s singing skills among bigger stars like the type of person at actual karaoke who will do a Celine Dion ballad at 3 am and insists you stay silent for the duration.
However, sometimes Carpool Karaoke serves a higher purpose, and that time is now: Michelle Obama, who admits she’s only been in the passenger seat of a car twice in seven-and-a-half years on account of secret service stuff, got to pop in the vehicle and sing a little Stevie Wonder with Corden, which of course she does beautifully.
And halfway through it, after a little “Single Ladies” with the hand dance and a conversation about FLOTUS’s new Snapchat, an unexpected guest pops in the backseat: Missy Elliott, who joined Obama on “This Is For My Girls,” a song in support of global education. (Two weeks ago, FLOTUS also sent a video to VH1 Hip-Hop Honors in support of Elliott, who was being celebrated.) Then they do a very rousing rendition of “Get Ur Freak On.” It’s the best Carpool Karaoke segment Corden’s ever done.