Tyla Makes History as Swift-Kelce Drama Looms at Kids' Choice Awards

Max Sterling, 6/22/2025Tyla hosts the Kids' Choice Awards 2025, marking a global shift in the show's dynamic. With nominees like Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift, and new categories reflecting modern entertainment consumption, the event promises chaos, slime, and surprises galore. Who will get slimed first?

Let's be real — this isn't your older sibling's KCAs anymore. While the show's trademark green goo remains locked and loaded, the 2025 edition feels distinctly more global, more connected, and somehow even more unpredictable than ever before.

The nominee list reads like a fever dream of pop culture greatness. Heavyweight contenders Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Selena Gomez are leading the pack with four nods each — though let's be honest, everyone's really buzzing about the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce factor. Their respective nominations (Swift for Favorite Female Artist and "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart," Kelce for Favorite Male Sports Star) have social media practically begging for a red carpet moment that could break the internet faster than you can say "slime time."

Speaking of evolution, the show's finally catching up with how kids actually consume entertainment these days. New categories like Favorite Podcast and Favorite Kids' Creator feel almost overdue — though somehow perfectly timed for 2025's digital landscape. Meanwhile, Jack Black (sharing the three-nomination club with Dwayne Johnson and Jelly Roll) is set to snag the "King of Comedy" title. Here's hoping he's wearing something slime-proof.

Cord-cutters, fear not. The streaming options are actually pretty solid this time around. Philo's throwing down with a week-long free trial and access to their massive library for $28 monthly after that. FuboTV's got some decent first-month discounts going ($20 off Pro and Elite plans), while DIRECTV's keeping things interesting with a 5-day trial and various package deals.

The production value's gotten a serious upgrade too. Think neon graphics that'd make Times Square jealous, a multi-level set that probably required some serious engineering, and AR interludes that somehow make the whole spectacle even more surreal. Because apparently, regular reality just wasn't wild enough for the KCA universe.

Fresh faces in the nominee pool — Cynthia Erivo, Frankie Grande, Shohei Ohtani, and Florence Pugh among them — are mixing things up nicely. Though at its core, the show's still powered by that same kid-driven democracy that's kept it relevant for nearly four decades. Thirty-five categories, millions of votes, and enough slime to fill an Olympic pool — some traditions never get old.

Between the skateboarding stunts, surprise slimings, and what's sure to be some wild musical numbers, tonight's show promises to maintain that perfect balance of controlled chaos and celebrity baptism by slime that's made the Kids' Choice Awards such a weirdly wonderful cultural touchstone. Now, who's taking bets on which A-lister gets slimed first?

The Kids' Choice Awards is about to get a fresh splash of international flavor — and yes, plenty of that iconic green slime. South African pop sensation Tyla's historic hosting gig at tonight's ceremony marks a pretty significant shift for Nickelodeon's beloved chaos-fest, now in its 38th year at Santa Monica's Barker Hangar.Let's be real — this isn't your older sibling's KCAs anymore. While the show's trademark green goo remains locked and loaded, the 2025 edition feels distinctly more global, more connected, and somehow even more unpredictable than ever before.The nominee list reads like a fever dream of pop culture greatness. Heavyweight contenders Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Selena Gomez are leading the pack with four nods each — though let's be honest, everyone's really buzzing about the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce factor. Their respective nominations (Swift for Favorite Female Artist and "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart," Kelce for Favorite Male Sports Star) have social media practically begging for a red carpet moment that could break the internet faster than you can say "slime time."Speaking of evolution, the show's finally catching up with how kids actually consume entertainment these days. New categories like Favorite Podcast and Favorite Kids' Creator feel almost overdue — though somehow perfectly timed for 2025's digital landscape. Meanwhile, Jack Black (sharing the three-nomination club with Dwayne Johnson and Jelly Roll) is set to snag the "King of Comedy" title. Here's hoping he's wearing something slime-proof.Cord-cutters, fear not. The streaming options are actually pretty solid this time around. Philo's throwing down with a week-long free trial and access to their massive library for $28 monthly after that. FuboTV's got some decent first-month discounts going ($20 off Pro and Elite plans), while DIRECTV's keeping things interesting with a 5-day trial and various package deals.The production value's gotten a serious upgrade too. Think neon graphics that'd make Times Square jealous, a multi-level set that probably required some serious engineering, and AR interludes that somehow make the whole spectacle even more surreal. Because apparently, regular reality just wasn't wild enough for the KCA universe.Fresh faces in the nominee pool — Cynthia Erivo, Frankie Grande, Shohei Ohtani, and Florence Pugh among them — are mixing things up nicely. Though at its core, the show's still powered by that same kid-driven democracy that's kept it relevant for nearly four decades. Thirty-five categories, millions of votes, and enough slime to fill an Olympic pool — some traditions never get old.Between the skateboarding stunts, surprise slimings, and what's sure to be some wild musical numbers, tonight's show promises to maintain that perfect balance of controlled chaos and celebrity baptism by slime that's made the Kids' Choice Awards such a weirdly wonderful cultural touchstone. Now, who's taking bets on which A-lister gets slimed first?