More than 11 years after he landed his first hits, Justin Bieber remains the artist kids would most like to see slimed. Bieber is the top music nominee at the 2021 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards with five nods: favorite male artist, favorite song (“Yummy”) and three for favorite music collaboration, “Lonely” (a collab with Benny Blanco), “Holy” (featuring Chance the Rapper) and “Stuck With U” (a collab with Ariana Grande).
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BlackPink, Selena Gomez, Grande, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, BTS, Drake and Shawn Mendes are runners-up, with two music nods each. Drake’s strong showing is impressive because he is 34, practically over-the-hill by Nickelodeon standards.
Actor and comedian Kenan Thompson will host the show, which is set to air live on March 13 — the night before the Grammy Awards. The show, which honors fan favorites in film, television, music, sports and more, will simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons and the Nick Jr. channel. It is set to air at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.
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Bieber was set to perform “Intentions” (featuring Quavo) on last year’s Kids’ Choice Awards until the COVID-19 pandemic forced its postponement. Chance the Rapper was set to host last year’s show.
For the first time, Nickelodeon’s Orange Blimp will leave the Kids’ Choice Awards venue and “take fans on a wild ride around the world and beyond,” according to a statement. Viewers will travel to outer space, Bikini Bottom and right into celebrities’ homes using XR technology. This year’s show will also feature live and interactive fan walls that bring celebrities and families at home to the main stage; second-screen live voting where fans stay in control; and a Kids’ Choice Award presented by one lucky family chosen during the show.
Beginning Tuesday (Feb. 2), fans can cast votes on the official Kids’ Choice Awards website, KidsChoiceAwards.com, and on the Screens Up app on supported iPad, iPhone and Android devices in the U.S. International fans can cast votes through the Nick Play app in regions where it is available. Fans will also be able to cast their votes through social media on Twitter.
Thompson, 42, has been a cast member on Saturday Night Live since 2003, making him the longest-tenured cast member in the show’s history. Thompson stars in and executive produces the new NBC comedy Kenan, premiering Feb. 16. Thompson won a Kids’ Choice Award for favorite male TV star for his work in Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy series All That in 2000. In 2018, he won an Emmy for outstanding original music and lyrics for co-writing “Come Back, Barack” for SNL.
Here are the nominations in the music categories:
Favorite female artist:
Ariana Grande
Beyoncé
Billie Eilish
Katy Perry
Selena Gomez
Taylor Swift
Favorite male artist:
Drake
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Post Malone
Shawn Mendes
The Weeknd
Favorite music group:
Black Eyed Peas
BlackPink
BTS
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5
OneRepublic
Favorite music collaboration:
“Be Kind,” Marshmello & Halsey
“Holy,” Justin Bieber featuring Chance the Rapper
“Ice Cream,” BlackPink & Selena Gomez
“Lonely,” Justin Bieber & Benny Blanco
“Rain on Me,” Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande
“Stuck with U,” Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber
Favorite song:
“Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd
“Cardigan,” Taylor Swift
“Dynamite,” BTS
“Toosie Slide,” Drake
“Wonder,” Shawn Mendes
“Yummy,” Justin Bieber
— Additional reporting by Cathy Applefeld Olson