Hosts of the Kids’ Choice Awards pretty much have to be willing to be slimed. Alex Warren, who is hosting the show on Saturday (Nov. 14) isn’t just willing, he’s really looking forward to it. Warren, 26, grew up watching the show with his brother and two sisters, and has fond memories of those experiences.
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In addition to hosting the show, Warren is a nominee: He’s up for favorite music collaboration for “Bloodline” (with Jelly Roll). He was also nominated for two awards at last year’s show, favorite viral song for his megahit “Ordinary” and favorite male breakout artist.
The show will afford Warren a chance to show his exuberant personality, a side of him that didn’t come across in his breakthrough hit, the rather solemn power ballad “Ordinary.”
Warren has become an awards show regular in the past year, winning best new artist at the 2025 VMAs and being nominated in that category at the Grammys in February. He won four awards, including song of the year, at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in March.
The Kids’ Choice Awards will broadcast live from Television City in Hollywood on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET (5:00 to 6:30 p.m. PT) on CBS and Nickelodeon. The show will also stream live on Paramount+ for Premium subscribers, with on-demand viewing available the following day for Premium and Essential subscribers.
Jamie Miller will open the show with the U.S. television debut of his viral hit “Babydoll.” Ashe will sing her “Stop the Wedding!,” a current top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Electronic duo Sofi Tukker will perform its dance track “Tsunami.”
Actor Chris Pratt is this year’s recipient of the King of Comedy Award, which went to Adam Sandler in 2023 and Jack Black in 2025. The KCAs are produced by Done + Dusted.
Exuding a kid-like energy and enthusiasm, Warren chatted with Billboard the day before he makes his awards-show hosting debut.
At last year’s Kids’ Choice Awards, you were nominated and also presented alongside Leon Thomas. What do you remember from the show?
Last year specifically, what I remember the most is the slime. Just because the viscosity of that was quite insane. I’d never been slimed before — and growing up, I had always dreamed of it. So we would try to do the DIY slime at home that you would buy from the grocery store, and I would always try my best to replicate that feeling of what I [actually] experienced last year. And it’s just so cool to be able to stand here and be able to be in charge of it now. I also got the formula, so I’m very excited now. Hopefully, when I have kids, I’ll teach them the real way to make it.
I take it being slimed again this year is a given.
It’s a priority of mine. I think it was probably in the terms-and-conditions that I signed to be part of the show. I would be shocked if we did not break a record on how much slime we’re going to do this year.
Did you and your siblings grow up watching the Kids’ Choice Awards?
Oh my! It was – and I’m not just saying this – a pinnacle of our childhood. We would all get ready. We taped it on TiVo because we weren’t able to watch it the day-of most of the time, and we would literally get up the next day, have a bowl of cereal, and watch the show. And it was truly a highlight of my childhood. And we would always play pretend, like we were the ones nominated.
My siblings and I are in a group chat [now], and I send them everything behind-the-scenes, showing them how it all works. And it’s really cool to kind of get these brownie points with my siblings, and also be able to create new memories with them, and hopefully, you know, as I’m filming this, create memories for my future children as well.
I like the show because it’s an introduction to awards shows for kids. Hopefully, they’ll graduate to watching the Grammys and the Oscars, and but I imagine most kids start here.
110%, and it’s also really cool because I feel like there’s some representation for these children who know their favorite actors and musicians. And on top of it, it’s just a fun night. You know, you mention award shows — and award shows can sometimes be very daunting and stiff, because these careers are in their hands. And this is one where you know it is a fun night for everyone. Everyone’s low-stress. There’s slime being thrown around everywhere, and a big party between all of us. And it feels nice to see each other.
Have you talked to anybody who’s hosted before to get some tips?
Yeah, I was with Nick Jonas, and I asked him what he had done when he hosted it [in 2015]. It’s so funny — no matter who you ask, all they mention is how much slime there is. So, I’m gonna try and find earplugs for sure. For this one, we’ve been so involved in the writing process, and I’m just really excited to be able to authentically be myself on the stage.
When did they approach you, and when did you sign on?
I remember I was doing interviews consistently, saying [I would be interested in hosting the show]. I was begging for this my entire career, to be frank with you — I was literally going, “Take a look. I’ll do it no matter where I am in my career.” And I remember I was I was just kind of harassing them to the point where they finally said yes. So, it was probably within the last few months. But I’ve been begging my entire career.
And it’s perfect timing for you because you have a tour announcement today.
Yeah. We didn’t even plan on all this happening. This is just one of those things where things perfectly aligned.
You’ve been to a lot of award shows. You’ve been nominated. You’ve won. Do you still get a kick out of them?
Every time, my heart rate beats so fast. I have this thing where, as a child, I had such bad stage fright, and it’s so cool to kind of reignite that in a way of now I have these butterflies, and I’m so excited, and it feels familiar but so different. And it’s just a testament for me to be able to kind of get over that hump, but also have fun in such an uncomfortable position and situation. So. It’s really exciting, and also it’s less for me to be nervous about when a lot of these things that I’m saying and wrote is something that I came up with, or me and my friends came up with. So, this show is a heavy representation of myself.
I thank you for taking the time. I hope you have a fun show.
