Michelle Obama hopped in the passenger seat of Late Late Show host James Corden’s SUV this week, joining the bubbly TV presenter for karaoke versions of her favorite tunes — including one sweet celebrity collaboration.
The first lady and Corden drove around the White House grounds in an extended circle, singing everything from Stevie Wonder’s classic Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours to Beyoncé’s Single Ladies. After a few songs, female rap hero Missy Elliott hopped in the back seat for a surprise version of the Obama collaboration This Is for My Girls, which in turn led to a karaoke rendition of Get Ur Freak On — a song the first lady knew all the words to. Now, that’s just good television.
Personable as ever, Obama spent the time between songs answering questions from Corden about her experience as first lady, confessing that because of the massive amounts of security surrounding her family’s travel, she rarely gets to drive around in a car and jam out. Perhaps that’s something she can look forward to when she leaves the White House early next year.
Michelle Obama seems ready to go back to some level of normalcy in her life after her husband finishes his second term as president.
“Seven-and-a-half years of luxuriating, that’s enough,” said the first lady when asked whether she will miss White House-style luxuries like the ability to get a grilled cheese sandwich made for her at 3 a.m., “I can make a mean grilled cheese sandwich.”
Corden then went on to ask Obama about her family’s Secret Service code names. “We’re all Rs. I’m Renaissance, Barack is Renegade,” she said, before Corden requested to be labeled Papa Smurf, or Tiramisu, by our nations’ most prestigious police.
Obama focused some time before Elliott hopped in the car highlighting her Let Girls Learn initiative, which is focused on getting undereducated girls around the world into the classroom.
All in all, the 15-minute segment was among the best in the Carpool Karaoke series, a happy segment in a world currently filled with intense political debates.
