James Corden told a lovely story about George Michael on his first show of 2017

If it wasn’t for George Michael, Carpool Karaoke would never have happened.

Tributes poured in from all over the music world following the passing of George Michael on Christmas Day and a late tribute paid by James Corden might be one of the most moving yet. On his return to the Late Late Show on Tuesday night, Corden introduced the show with a tribute to the singer, reflecting on the time they spent together while filming a famous sketch for Comic Relief in 2011. A huge fan of his music, Corden spoke of his admiration for Michael before meeting him and recalled their first conversation over the phone before they performed a sketch that turned out to be the genesis of the behemoth that Carpool Karaoke is now. Corden added that while there was initial reluctance to the idea of Carpool Karaoke when he took over the Late Late Show gig, the sight of George Michael doing it was enough to convince Mariah Carey to follow suit and it really took off from there. Whether or not you’re a fan of Corden, this is a genuine, moving and heartfelt tribute to a man who’s sorely missed. https://youtu.be/ZHLNA0j89PA Clip via The Late Late Show with James Corden