In another universe, Rihanna would have taken over the Grammys stage last night with James Corden by her side in an '80s-inspired performance of "Kiss It Better." But, of course, none of that happened, because we live in the darkest timeline.
At the last minute, the pop star pulled out of her highly anticipated Grammy number, citing health concerns as the reason for cancellation. Apparently, RiRi came down with bronchitis and was at serious risk of hemorrhaging her vocal chords.
On "The Late Late Show" after the ceremony on Monday, Corden explained Rihanna's vision for the performance and revealed how he got involved in the #NAVY in the first place.
"I get this phone call saying Rihanna has got this big thing planned for her song 'Kiss It Better' and she's doing like a whole '80s talk show thing and it's going to be really cool," he explained to the live audience. "And what she wants you to do is be like an '80s talk show host and I'd have funny glasses and sit on a thing, maybe have a cigarette, and I'd introduce Rihanna, and she'd come out and do a song and then at the end she'd come and sit with me, like it was its own talk show which they called 'As It Lays.' So, I go on Saturday morning and I rehearse it there. She's a bit under the weather, but it's all going to be OK."
Umm, so that sounds way better than 90 percent of the performances last night.
When he found out the Rihanna was a no-go, Corden offered up his considerable talents to replace the pop star, until the producers rained on his parade. Have they not seen "Carpool Karaoke"?!
"I immediately go, 'I hear what you're saying. Yes, I'll fill the spot. I'll do it.' Luckily, I just had a wax, so I just got it off, I've got the hot pants on, I'm running in my head, like, 'Bitch better have my money!' I'm like, 'Shine bright like a diamond!' I'm doing the whole thing," Corden joked. "I sent someone out to get loads of umbrellas for the end of the thing. I'm absolutely buzzing on it. I'm like, 'Yes, this is it this is the big moment.' And they go, 'No, James. We've just cut it. It's just gone.'"
Womp womp. Oh, what could have been ...
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Grammys 2016
