Alex Warren Opens Up About ‘Horrifying’ Tech Malfunction During His 2026 Grammys Performance: ‘It Was Really Bad’

**Alex Warren Reflects on ‘Horrifying’ Grammy Performance: A Technical Nightmare on Live Television**

In a candid discussion on the popular ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast, singer Alex Warren revealed the overwhelming challenges he faced while performing at the Grammy Awards in 2026. The 25-year-old artist, best known for his song “Ordinary”, recounted the intense technical difficulties that transformed his much-anticipated performance into a “horrifying” experience.

Warren described the scene during his performance, where he faced issues with his in-ear devices, leading to a disconcerting experience while attempting to connect with the audience. “I’ve never talked about this. It was horrifying. We rehearsed it all week,” he told podcast host Alex Cooper. Despite thorough preparations, he was unprepared for the chaos that would unfold on the night.

The singer explained that right before he was set to perform as part of the Best New Artist medley, his in-ear devices failed. “They said, ’30 seconds,’ and I replied, ‘I can’t hear anything.’ The response was just, ‘It’s live TV, 25 seconds,’” he recalled. As he continued to communicate his difficulties, it became evident that the situation was spiralling out of control. With one ear blasting sound while the other remained silent, he felt utterly lost.

Describing the moment, Warren detailed how, as he began to sing, he was disoriented by an external crowd mic rather than the sound from his own voice. “I start singing, and all I’m hearing is what’s from the other room,” he explained. “It was just the left ear.” He further elaborated that instead of a stereo mix, he only heard his own voice at an ear-splitting volume.

Fortunately, by the time Warren reached the stage, normality resumed with his in-ear devices functioning correctly again. He attributed the issues to the presence of a vast number of fans recording the performance. “When we rehearsed it, they weren’t expecting 20,000 phones to be in,” he noted, suggesting that the swarm of technology may have interfered with the signals.

Amidst the chaos, a looming question persisted: did he ever consider stopping the performance? As it was being broadcast live, Warren quickly realised that such an option was not on the table. “I’m supposed to be like, ‘Hey guys, I’m at the Grammys. This is cool,’ and instead you will see pure horror in my eyes,” he lamented. Despite the challenges, once he completed the performance, he felt an overwhelming rush of emotion.

Warren, a self-confessed fearer of heights, expressed that his thoughts were focused not on the frightening scenario of being elevated above the crowd, but rather on staying in time with the music. He began to analyse the routine, viewing the aerial aspect as initially special, only to later liken it to something reminiscent of a megachurch performance.

After completing his act, the young artist was emotionally drained, holding back tears as accolades poured in from the audience. “I looked to my left and right and everyone’s like, ‘You did so good,’” he shared. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is really, really emotional.’”

As the awards ceremony progressed, Warren was nominated for Best New Artist but ultimately lost to Olivia Dean. The disappointment weighed heavily on him, but he managed to find joy in Dean’s win, recalling, “I was really happy for her. She deserved it a hundred percent, but once that happened, I was like, ‘Damn, I wanna go home.’”

Throughout the rest of the evening, Warren found solace in his wife’s presence, with his head resting on her shoulder. “The whole entire Grammys, I did not wanna look up. I did not wanna talk to anybody,” he admitted. In a moment of support, fellow artist Chappell Roan approached him, reassuring him that he had done remarkably well. “She could tell I was down, and she came up to my table and was the sweetest ever,” he recalled fondly.

To escape the aftermath of the evening, Warren later deleted social media apps from his phone to avert conversations about his performance. However, he did share a TikTok video addressing the technical failures and received an outpouring of support from fans. The evening was undoubtedly tough for Warren, but the experience might also provide valuable lessons for future performances.

As he reflects on the stark contrasts between expectation and reality, it is clear that even in the most glamorous moments of fame, artists like Warren contend with challenges that profoundly impact their personal and professional lives.