NBC’s The Voice season 28 finalists, DEK of Hearts, were affected by technical difficulties during their performance at the 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
DDM gathered that the audio issues occurred during the live broadcast of the parade finale on January 1, 2026.
DEK of Hearts is a Nashville-based trio made up of siblings who rose to national prominence on The Voice.
The group earned their Rose Parade performance slot after winning the show’s first-ever “Mic Drop” contest.
The contest was introduced as a special segment to showcase standout finalists beyond the competition stage.
Winning the Mic Drop contest secured DEK of Hearts a chance to perform at one of America’s most iconic annual events.
The Rose Parade is traditionally held every New Year’s Day and attracts millions of viewers worldwide.
It is organized by the Tournament of Roses and features elaborate floats, marching bands, and celebrity performances.
DEK of Hearts performed a rendition of Capital Cities’ hit song “Safe and Sound” during the parade finale.
However, viewers quickly noticed problems with the live audio feed during the performance.
The trio’s vocals were affected by uneven volume levels throughout the song.
Some harmonies were barely audible, while others appeared distorted.
The technical fault disrupted what was expected to be a career-defining moment for the group.
Fans watching the live broadcast took to social media to express concern and disappointment.
Many viewers defended the singers, blaming production issues rather than performance quality.
Clips of the flawed audio circulated online shortly after the broadcast.
The incident sparked criticism of the broadcast production standards at the high-profile event.
On January 3, 2026, the Tournament of Roses officially addressed the situation.
Organizers issued an apology to DEK of Hearts and to viewers who watched the performance live.
They acknowledged that the issue was caused by technical failures during the broadcast.
The Tournament of Roses assured fans that the problem did not reflect the group’s vocal ability.
Organizers also revealed that an edited version of the performance had been uploaded to YouTube.
The edited clip reportedly features corrected audio to reflect the group’s true performance.
This move was intended to preserve the integrity of the artists’ work.
DEK of Hearts responded calmly to the incident through their social media platforms.
The trio shared a montage highlighting moments from their Rose Parade experience.
They used the original studio version of “Safe and Sound” as the soundtrack for the montage.
Fans praised the group’s professionalism and positive attitude despite the setback.
Many supporters described the incident as an unfortunate technical mishap rather than a reflection of talent.
Industry observers noted that live outdoor broadcasts often face complex sound challenges.
They explained that parade environments present unique technical obstacles for audio engineers.
Despite the glitch, DEK of Hearts’ appearance still marked a major milestone in their career.
The Rose Parade performance added to the group’s growing national exposure.
Music analysts say the publicity from the incident may even increase public interest in the trio.
NBC has not issued a separate statement beyond the Tournament of Roses apology.
Fans of The Voice continue to rally behind DEK of Hearts following the incident.
The trio’s journey from reality television to a national stage has been widely celebrated.
Observers say how artists handle public setbacks often shapes their long-term image.
DEK of Hearts’ response has been described as mature and brand-strengthening.
The incident has renewed calls for stricter technical safeguards during live broadcasts.
Organizers say lessons have been learned to prevent similar issues in future events.
For DEK of Hearts, the Rose Parade appearance remains a significant achievement.
Supporters believe the group’s talent will ultimately overshadow the brief technical disruption.
The apology closes a moment of controversy at an otherwise celebratory New Year tradition.