James Corden may be coming live from London this week with “The Late Late Show,” but Grammy winner Lizzo joined him for a prerecorded segment of “Carpool Karaoke” back in Los Angeles.
As they traveled across LA, discussion between the pair ranged from how she renamed herself Lizzo (from Melissa), her religious upbringing that wouldn’t let her listen to secular music, her family’s reaction to her body-positivity crusade and – most memorably – her love of Beyoncé. She even named her flute after the “Break My Soul” singer’s alter-ego: Sasha Flute (Beyoncé nickname is Sasha Fierce).
“When I was shy or when I didn’t think I was cool and when I was getting picked on, I would listen to Beyoncé in my bedroom and it would transport me,” Lizzo said. “I would feel something. I would feel like my life is going to be better – there’s hope for me. When I dropped out of college and I was really depressed, I listened to ‘B’Day’ on repeat and I would just sing ‘B’Day’ all the time. I was like, ‘I’m gonna be a singer, I’m gonna be a singer.’ The way she makes people feel is the way I wanna make people feel with music. She’s been my north star.”
Corden, ever the prankster, jumped at the opportunity to overwhelm his guest. After initially asking Lizzo if she and Beyoncé were friends (“I’m not friends with her, I’ve never met her,” she said), Corden broke out his phone and asked if they should call Queen Bey.
“Don’t f— with me,” Lizzo said, clearly flustered. “If you are gonna call Beyoncé … don’t scare me.”
But Corden kept up the bit until Lizzo breathlessly agreed to call her idol.
“Are y’all joking!?” she said, holding her hand to her face appearing on the verge of tears.
“I’m joking, there’s no way I’ve got her phone number!” Corden exclaimed, cackling.
“You almost got me, you b—-!” Lizzo lamented.
They then broke into a rendition of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love.” Other highlights from Lizzo’s installment of “Carpool Karaoke” include Lizzo and Corden singing her singles “Good as Hell,” “Juice” and “Truth Hurts.”
Watch the full video above.