Ariana Grande, John Legend, Metallica, Will Smith join Apple's 'Carpool Karaoke' series

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Apple music has assembled a star-studded cast for its series version of popular late night segment Carpool Karaoke including Ariana Grande, John Legend, Metallica and Will Smith just to name a few.

The series, which will consist of 16 half-hour episodes, will be the first video series for Apple's music streaming service and will also include appearances by Alicia Keys, Taraji P. Henson Billy Eichner, Seth MacFarlane, Blake Shelton, Chelsea Handler and original host James Corden.

Corden who started Carpool Karaoke on The Late Late Show, will not be hosting the series version and will instead be featured driving alongside Smith for the rapper turned actor's episode.

The new idea behind the series is that there is no host with each musician being paired with another celebrity as they drive around singing hits from their career while giving an interview.

"I'm still going to see my kid on the weekends," Corden said of not exclusively hosting the show to Rolling Stone. "This just became a wonderful platform to see these people in such an intimate environment. I don't feel it's mine."

"What James does is so special and singular, it was silly, as we figured out how to make a full series, to try and replicate that," added producer Ben Winston.

Parings will include Legend with Keys and Henson, Eichner with Metallica, Grande with MacFarlane and Shelton with Handler.

Corden will still continue to produce Carpool Karaoke segments as part of The Late Late Show.