AceShowbiz - Alex Warren entered the 2026 Grammy Awards with anticipation and excitement as he was nominated for Best New Artist and set to perform a medley including his popular track "Ordinary." However, just 30 seconds before taking the stage, he discovered a critical issue: his in-ear monitors were malfunctioning. Despite the problem, he chose to proceed with the live performance.

The malfunction occurred right after the previous act, Katseye, completed their set. Warren described the experience as "horrifying," especially given the extensive rehearsals leading up to the event. "We rehearsed all week, and it was flawless during practice," he explained in his first public account of the incident on the podcast Call Her Daddy. The singer suspects interference from the sheer amount of cellphone radio signals in the arena might have caused the audio equipment failure.

During the performance, Warren struggled to hear himself properly. "There’s no mix to it, so all I’m hearing is my voice super loud," he said. At one point, as he descended the stage steps, he noticed an echo in his right ear and removed the in-ear device, which only worsened the issue. Eventually, once onstage, he reinserted the earpiece, temporarily fixing the problem. However, by then, the performance was nearly over, and he found himself on an elevated platform several feet above ground.

Compounding the stress, Warren revealed his fear of heights made the final moments particularly challenging. "I’m terrified of heights. I wasn’t thinking about being up in the air—I was just hoping to get back down safely and on time," he shared.

After the performance, Warren was distraught. He spent much of the ceremony withdrawn, resting his head on his wife’s shoulder and avoiding interaction with others. He received encouragement from Chappell Roan, the Best New Artist winner from 2025. She approached him at his table, offering kind words. "She said, ‘If anyone understands, it’s the people in this room, and you sounded amazing,’" he recalled.

"Chappell definitely saw that I was distraught and came to check on me. It was really sweet," he added, emphasizing the comfort her support brought him during a difficult night.

When the moment came to announce the winner of Best New Artist, Warren was overcome with emotion. Backstage, he fought back tears while being urged to return to his seat for the announcement. "As soon as the category was introduced, I felt destroyed," he said. "I thought there was no chance I would win after the performance mishap."

The award ultimately went to Olivia Dean, and Warren expressed genuine happiness for her success. "She deserved it a hundred percent," he affirmed. Despite his support for the winner, the moment made him want to leave the ceremony. "After it happened, I just wanted to go home," he admitted.

The experience left a strong impression on Warren, who navigated both technical difficulties and personal anxieties on one of music’s biggest stages.