Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Sofia Grace, right, and Rosie arrive at the 26th annual Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards on Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Pitbull felt the slime at the Kids Choice Awards.

The rapper and Christina Aguilera launched the 26th annual awards extravaganza Saturday with their duet "Feel This Moment." The pair was joined by young backup dancers resembling the smooth-headed rapper and blonde diva. At the end of the performance, Aguilera smashed a button, covering Pitbull and the dancers in the show's signature green goo.

Early winners at the viewer-voted ceremony honouring kids' favourites in film, music, sports and TV included Adam Sandler as favourite voice from an animated movie for "Hotel Transylvania," race car driver Danica Patrick as favourite female athlete and "The Hunger Games" as favourite movie and book.

"Always be nice to your parents," Sandler told the crowd of screaming kids. "Always be nice to your teachers."

"Transformers" star Josh Duhamel is serving as host of the slime-filled ceremony at University of Southern California's Galen Center. One of his first acts as host was dumping goop on Los Angeles Lakers player Dwight Howard.

"I guess that's what we call a slime dunk!" Duhamel said.

Duhamel said a record-breaking 350 million votes had been cast for the show.