Who would Carson Daly want on 'TRL' if he were to host again? This was his answer

Carson Daly would love to look to the past to get to the future.

While on the red carpet at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 15, Carson was asked by Billboard who he would want as his first guest if he was able to do an episode of “Total Request Live” today. His answer: Eminem.

Carson, who hosted the longtime MTV after-school show — often called “TRL” — beginning with its premiere in 1998, didn’t hesitate while using the rapper's real name.

“I have to say Marshall (Mathers) because Em was there from the beginning,” Carson said.

Carson and Eminem attended the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month, where they reconnected.

“I saw him just the other night at the VMAs. I hadn’t been to the VMAs in years. I don’t think he had been on in a while,” Carson said.

Eminem performed at the VMAs, with a small army of look-alikes behind him.

“Seeing him with all the Slim Shadys, that really brought me back. And we have great history and being such a fan of the beginning of his career and how it all happened at MTV, if I was to go back and do a show, it wouldn’t be right without having Em there,” Carson said.

“TRL” was the place for artists to be seen in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, with stars like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync and more getting massive exposure. Eminem was another star who came of age in the “TRL” era. He was a frequent guest on the show, and even appeared on it during an infamous moment with fellow guest Mark Wahlberg that featured tension between the two.

“It was really, really awkward. They were not very friendly,” Carson told TODAY.com in 2023 while celebrating the 25th anniversary of “TRL’s” premiere.

Carson also poked fun during the VMAs at how much time has passed since “TRL” first burst onto the scene.

“For those of you who are a little too young to know who I am, I was the host of a show on MTV called ‘Total Request Live,’ or ‘TRL,’ a very long time ago,” he said during his appearance at the award show.

“It was the best, the best show. Kids going crazy in Times Square. And every day after school, I was with your mother. So, please, tell her I said hi.”

This article was originally published on TODAY.com