British comedian James Corden, who hosts CBS’s “Late Late Show,” will take over emcee duties for the Grammy Awards in 2017, Variety reported Tuesday.
Rapper and actor LL Cool J had the assignment the past five years.
“Thanks to ’Carpool Karaoke,’ we’ve all been on some incredible rides with James, and The Recording Academy couldn’t be more excited to welcome his passion and enthusiasm for music, both as an entertainer and a fan, to the Grammy stage on February 12,” National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences CEO Neil Portnow said, Variety reported. “He’s got big shoes to fill after the magnificent run we had with LL Cool J, but James Corden is a commanding, dynamic showman who, we believe, is perfect to host the Grammy Awards.”
No stranger to award shows, Mr. Corden hosted both the Tony Awards and the Hollywood Film Awards this year. The latter took place just two days prior to the presidential election and was particularly marked by celebrities waxing political with partisan jabs at Donald Trump.
For his part, however, Mr. Corden’s political humor has largely avoided the alarmist tone that other late-night hosts have had, and what’s more the English immigrant’s first post-election monologue sounded a nonpartisan, optimistic and patriotic note.
“When me and my wife told my son that we were going to be moving to America, he looked at us, and I’ll never forget, and he said, ’Daddy, that’s great.’ Somehow he knew this was a fantastic place to live,” Mr. Corden said to his audience, The Hollywood Reporter noted. “It’s a country of opportunity and diversity and hope, and that will never change.”
The 2017 Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 12.
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