The night was meant to be a milestone for Alex Warren, the YouTuber-turned-chart-topping singer-songwriter.
Fans and viewers alike were buzzing with anticipation for his debut performance at the 2026 Grammy Awards, but things didn’t exactly go as planned.
Warren, performing his hit single Ordinary at Los Angeles’s Crypto.com Arena, faced immediate challenges with his in-ear monitors.
These devices are supposed to help artists hear themselves clearly over booming live sound, but Warren struggled to hear his own voice in the mix, which was painfully obvious on stage.
Technical Troubles in Full View
From the moment Warren walked out through a tunnel from the backstage area, something felt off.
A strange hiss in the broadcast audio hinted at technical issues, and Warren’s attempts to adjust his hidden battery pack beneath his jacket revealed his growing frustration.
At one point, he even removed an earpiece mid-performance, a move that highlighted the struggle.
Fans watching live noticed that his voice seemed weaker than usual, likely due to the distraction of trying to sing while fixing his monitors.
In a particularly tricky section, he got slightly offbeat with the backing track, making the mishap evident to everyone tuning in.
Fans Rally Behind Him
Despite the rocky start, Warren managed to finish strong, ending the performance on a triumphant choral note while being lifted above the stage on a circular platform.
He bowed, blew kisses to the audience, and earned applause for pushing through the chaos.
Social media reactions were mixed but empathetic. “Alex Warren looked so disappointed noooo… your first Grammy performance goes like that :/,” wrote one fan.
Another added, “Seems like Alex’s monitors weren’t working for a bit there. Still did well at the end!”
Even some critics expressed sympathy: “Hate Alex Warren, but I will not stand for people complaining. His in-ears clearly malfunctioned.”
Several viewers were impressed by his poise: “Went into the Grammys rooting for Olivia Dean, but the way Alex handled that monitor mishap… kinda won me over.”
A Heartbreaker in the Best New Artist Race
Unfortunately, Warren faced another disappointment when he lost the Best New Artist award to fellow performer Olivia Dean.
The Grammys’ 68th annual ceremony, broadcast live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, also featured host Trevor Noah returning for his sixth consecutive year.
Star-Studded Lineup and Big Nominations
Kendrick Lamar led the 2026 nominations with nine nods, while Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and Cirkut followed closely with seven.
Sabrina Carpenter, who grabbed six nominations for Man’s Best Friend, was also among the high-profile performers, along with Justin Bieber and K-pop sensation Rosé.
This year, the Recording Academy introduced two new categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover.
The country category now distinguishes between contemporary and traditional styles, reflecting the Academy’s efforts to accurately recognize today’s music landscape.
Highlights From the Night’s Winners
The night delivered surprises across multiple genres:
- Album of the Year: Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
- Record of the Year: Kendrick Lamar with SZA – luther
- Song of the Year: Billie Eilish – Wildflower
- Best New Artist: Olivia Dean
- Best Pop Vocal Album: Lady Gaga – MAYHEM
- Best Pop Solo Performance: Lola Young – Messy
- Best Traditional Country Album: Zach Top – Ain’t In It For My Health
- Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar – GNX
- Best Música Urbana Album: Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Other standout wins included Tyler, the Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA for Best Rock Album, FKA twigs’ EUSEXUA for Best Dance/Electronic Album, and Olivia Dean taking home Best New Artist honors.
Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga Steal the Spotlight
Justin Bieber returned to the Grammy stage for the first time in four years, performing after a musical hiatus due to health issues.
Bieber, nominated for four awards including Album of the Year for SWAG, attended alongside his wife Hailey Bieber, while ex Selena Gomez was also present with her husband Benny Blanco.
Lady Gaga had a remarkable night, with her album MAYHEM nominated across major categories, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.
This marked the first time in her career she achieved simultaneous nominations in all three of the top categories.
A Night Full of First-Timers and Genre Diversity
The 2026 Grammys celebrated a wide array of artists and genres.
First-time nominees like Tate McRae, Zara Larsson, and PinkPantheress shared the stage with veterans, while Beyoncé’s influence on the split country categories was evident.
The ceremony honored over 95 categories, highlighting achievements in jazz, R&B, global music, classical, gospel, Latin music, and more.
From Alex Warren’s technical challenges to big wins and unforgettable performances, the 2026 Grammys proved once again that music’s biggest night is as unpredictable as it is star-studded.
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