James Corden Teases HAMILTON-Like Rap Battle with Lin-Manuel Miranda on 2016 TONY's

By: May. 17, 2016
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In all-new interview with ET, TONY AWARDS host James Corden teases the possibility of including a HAMILTON-like rap battle with multiple Tony nominee and master rapper Lin-Manuel Miranda in the broadcast. "I would love nothing more," says the LATE LATE SHOW host, adding, "but I don't fancy it would be much of a battle."

Despite speculation that Corden will find a way to incorporate his wildly popular 'Carpool Karaoke' segment into the June 12th ceremony, it looks as though for now, it will not be happening. Explains Corden, "I sort of feel like to leave the theater to show something that you have shot a week before -- because it has to be edited -- I do not know how that would feel in that night." He adds, "Maybe we'll change our minds, but right now, I do not imagine so. I am just there to keep it going." He goes on to explain that he would prefer to give the air time to the many musical performances lined up for the evening.

First and foremost, Corden's goal is to ensure he will not go down in the history books as a failed Tony host. "I just don't want to mess it up," he tells ET. "I do not want to be, you know, the worst. I do not want people going, 'Oh, would be great if it was not for that British bloke.'"

Read the interview in full HERE

James Corden will host THE 70TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS, airing live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City on Sunday, June 12 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

This will be Corden's first time hosting the Tonys. He won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his performance in "One Man, Two Guvnors" in 2012. Below, check out just-released poster art for the 70th ANNUAL TONY AWARDS along with all-new promo shots featuring host James Corden.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the TONY Awards, which were first held on April 6, 1947 at the Waldorf Astoria's Grand Ballroom. The ceremony is presented by Tony Award Productions, which is a joint venture of the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, which founded the Tonys.

Photo: Jason Bell/CBS


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