The Boss Vs. The Host: 3 Shocking Truths About James Corden And Bruce Springsteen’s Rivalry

Despite the widespread public belief that Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen and James Corden once teamed up for a legendary segment of Carpool Karaoke, the truth is far more complex and involves a surprising, high-stakes rivalry at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. As of December 14, 2025, no such episode exists, yet the two global icons are forever linked by a major awards show snub that denied one of them a career-defining achievement. This article dives into the real, often-overlooked connections between the British host and the American rock legend.

The connection between the host of The Late Late Show and the leader of the E Street Band is not one of musical collaboration, but rather one of professional overlap, awards show drama, and a persistent, debunked rumor. Beyond a brief 2016 interview, their most significant interaction happened when James Corden's work inadvertently prevented Springsteen from joining one of the most exclusive clubs in entertainment.

The Career Profiles: James Corden and Bruce Springsteen

To understand the high-stakes nature of their awards show clash, it is essential to look at the monumental careers of both James Corden and Bruce Springsteen. Their paths to global fame are entirely different, yet both have achieved the highest honors in their respective fields.

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James Corden: The Comedian and Host

• Born: August 22, 1978, Hillingdon, London, England.
• Key Roles: Co-creator and star of the hit sitcom Gavin & Stacey, host of The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015–2023), and creator of Carpool Karaoke.
• Major Awards: Multiple Emmy Awards (including for Carpool Karaoke and The Late Late Show), a Tony Award for Best Actor for One Man, Two Guvnors, and an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire).
• Key Entities: Gavin & Stacey, Tony Awards, OBE, The Late Late Show, Paul McCartney, Adele.

Bruce Springsteen: The Rock and Roll Icon

• Born: September 23, 1949, Long Branch, New Jersey, USA.
• Key Roles: Singer-songwriter, musician, and leader of the E Street Band. Known for albums like Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and The River.
• Major Awards: 20 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award (Oscar) for "Streets of Philadelphia," two Golden Globe Awards, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• EGOT Status: Springsteen has an Oscar, Grammys, and a Tony Award (Special Tony Award for Springsteen on Broadway, though not a competitive one for EGOT purposes). He is only missing a competitive Emmy to achieve EGOT status.
• Key Entities: E Street Band, Born to Run, *Nebraska*, *Springsteen on Broadway*, EGOT, Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Carpool Karaoke Myth: Why The Boss Never Rode Shotgun

The most common search query linking the two men is whether Bruce Springsteen ever participated in the viral segment, Carpool Karaoke. The answer is a definitive no, and the reason is likely a combination of scheduling and Corden’s own admission of who got away.

The rumor of a Springsteen Carpool Karaoke is so persistent that images and posts claiming the segment exists have circulated widely online, but they are all entirely false.

James Corden himself revealed that Bruce Springsteen was the one guest he desperately wanted but could never secure for the segment. Corden’s list of guests included musical titans like Paul McCartney, Adele, and Lady Gaga, making the absence of a rock legend like Springsteen a notable gap in the show's history. This unfulfilled wish only amplified the public's curiosity and the belief that the segment must have happened.

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While Springsteen never sang "Born to Run" with Corden in an SUV, he did appear on The Late Late Show for a traditional, sit-down interview in November 2016. During this appearance, Springsteen discussed his memoir, Born to Run, and his illustrious career, but the segment remained firmly on the couch, not in the car.

The EGOT Denial: How Corden Blocked Springsteen's Elite Status

The most dramatic and consequential intersection of their careers occurred in 2019 at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. This event created a surprising, albeit indirect, rivalry between the two stars, one that had massive implications for Bruce Springsteen's legacy.

The EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) is considered the "Grand Slam" of American show business, an honor achieved by only a handful of performers. Springsteen already possessed the Oscar, numerous Grammys, and a non-competitive Tony Award for his critically acclaimed one-man show, Springsteen on Broadway. He needed a competitive Emmy to complete the set.

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The Netflix special of his show, Springsteen on Broadway, was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmys. This was his chance to achieve the coveted EGOT status.

The winner of that category was: Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live From Liverpool.

James Corden, through his work on the special with Paul McCartney, won the award, effectively denying Bruce Springsteen the final piece of hardware he needed for the EGOT. The moment was a quiet, yet monumental, awards show snub. While Corden himself did not directly compete against Springsteen, his production's victory meant "The Boss" would have to wait even longer to join the elite EGOT club.

This surprising outcome highlights the unexpected ways in which two seemingly disparate careers can collide. It wasn't a singing competition, but a battle for televised special supremacy, and Corden's viral segment ultimately prevailed over Springsteen's intimate Broadway performance.

Topical Authority: The Enduring Legacy of the Two Titans

Even with James Corden stepping away from The Late Late Show in 2023 and Bruce Springsteen continuing his global tours with the E Street Band in 2024 and 2025, the connection between them remains a fascinating footnote in entertainment history.

The EGOT denial moment is a powerful example of how Corden's career, built on modern, viral content like Carpool Karaoke, could challenge and defeat the work of a traditional rock icon like Springsteen. It symbolizes a generational shift in what constitutes "Outstanding Variety Special."

For fans, the enduring question is whether Springsteen will ever secure that final competitive Emmy. For now, the story of James Corden and Bruce Springsteen remains one of a persistent myth and a dramatic, high-stakes rivalry that played out silently on an Emmy ballot, proving that sometimes, the biggest stories are the ones that never made it into the car.