BTS fans crown James Corden as their late night king

The Late Late Show with James Corden received an outpouring of love from BTS fans.

FanSided knows fans better than anyone on the internet. It’s what the entire network is built on. So believe us when we say there is no fanbase like that of BTS. Just ask James Corden.

The K-pop group has become a global and cultural phenomenon in relatively short amount of time. Millions of streams and video views along with crazy live performances have made the BTS Army a force to be reckoned with. It’s not surprise that the fans came in at the number one spot for music in FanSided’s annual ranking of fandoms.

And that fandom is starting to spread outside of just the band. Anyone and everyone who interacts or is associated with BTS is feeling the impact of the group’s passionate fans. If a rising tide lifts all boats, then the BTS ARMY tide is certainly lifting James Corden’s boat.

The Late Late Show has become the official late night home of BTS. The group first appeared on the show two years ago and sent fans into a frenzy. The YouTube clip of BTS playing the Late Late Show game “Flinch” has earned over 30 million views.

BTS fans have had Jan. 28 marked on their calendars for a while now as BTS was set to perform their latest single “Black Swan.” Buzz around the performance was building well before The Late Late Show aired and continued well after BTS left the stage.

In addition to performing “Black Swan,” BTS basically took over The Late Late Show. They sat down with James Corden for an interview in which they recapped their night at the Grammy Awards and gave fans some insight into their album Map of the Soul: 7.

The K-Pop megastars weren’t done there. Next up was a game of Hide and Seek with Corden and fellow Late Late Show guest Ashton Kutcher. Anything involving the band is going to go viral at this point but this game and Kutcher’s involvement helped take it to the next level.

All in all, it was a huge night for BTS fans. It also was a huge night for James Corden. On Wednesday, #ThankYouJamesCorden was trending on Twitter as the ARMY expressed their gratitude. While it seems like a no-brainer to invite the biggest band in the world onto a late night show, James Corden’s chemistry with the band and appreciation for their talent has clearly resonated with fans.

The fanbase even took things one step further. A movement online resulted in a number of donations being made to Magic Breakfast, a charity supported by Corden that provides meals to children in need. Corden thanked the fans in another example of the sense of community surrounding the band’s fans.

Something similar happened not to long ago when actor/wrestler John Cena was on the show. Corden asked fellow guest actress January Jones about her encounter with BTS. Jones admitted she was unfamiliar with the band but could tell they were famous. Cena expressed his jealousy and shared why he is a genuine fan of BTS.

Fans once again took to Twitter to applaud Cena for his support of the band. The fact that the interview happened on The Late Late Show only helped cement Corden’s position as the late night guardian of BTS.

There is a long history of late night hosts becoming connected to certain celebrities. Think Johnny Carson and Bob Hope or Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake in modern times. While James Corden and BTS aren’t quite at that level yet, it is clear that the group feels at home on The Late Late Show and both sides understand the mutually beneficial relationship.

The night was another clear example of the power of fanbases and more specifically BTS fans. Boy bands and pop stars have always had a passionate, if not rabid, collection of fans. What we are seeing with the K-Pop group is approaching a whole new level, taking James Corden and others along for the ride.

For James Corden, it means that he has earned himself more fans by association by giving BTS a late night platform. He has introduced the band to many of his fans and many of the band’s fans have turned into Corden fans. It is only a matter of time before BTS shows up for “Carpool Karaoke.” Stay tuned.