DEK of Hearts Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut

Three voices. Three different backgrounds. One country-pop trio is trying to carve out its own lane.

That’s the story behind Deck of Hearts, a group made up of Kollin Bailey of Marshfield, Dylan John of Ohio, and Emily Klapp of Indiana. The three met while attending Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville and slowly realized their sound clicked in a way people noticed.

The trio had their first Grand Ole Opry Debut this past weekend.

It actually started pretty casually.

Kollin asked Dylan and Emily to sing backup during his senior recital. The trio performed Lady A’s “What If I Never Get Over You,” and afterward, people kept telling them there was something special there.

At first, everyone still focused on solo music. Kollin leaned toward country and bluegrass. Dylan came from more of a pop background. Emily brought in contemporary Christian influences. But about 11 months later, things changed.

On April 24, 2024, the group officially debuted together while opening for bluegrass star Rhonda Vincent in Marshfield.

Now, a little over two years later, DEK of Hearts is touring across the Midwest and building a following online and on country radio stations.

The trio says one of their biggest inspirations is Lady A. In fact, they joked early on about calling themselves “Lady B.”

“We really loved their sound,” Emily said. “How everyone gets a moment to shine, but also blends naturally together.”

That mix of styles has become part of the group’s identity. Emily points to artists like CeCe Winans and Natalie Grant as personal influences, while the group overall leans toward modern country-pop.

DEK of Hearts recently spent a weekend opening for Carly Pearce, something the group says helped expand its reach and opened new doors for future touring opportunities.

For now, most shows are still centered around the Midwest. Some are festivals and public events. Others are ticketed concerts. The group performs mainly as a trio, though they occasionally add a full band setup.

Fans can follow the group online through social media or at DEK of Hearts, where tour dates and music updates are posted regularly.