In an exclusive reveal to Barbados TODAY, the freshly crowned 2024 Pic-o-De-Crop Calypso Monarch Adrian ‘AC’ Clarke is set to depart Barbados in just days to undergo critical spinal surgery in the United States, cutting short his victory celebrations and forcing the postponement of all early performance bookings at the start of his reign. The four-time champion, who dominated Friday night’s national final held at the National Botanical Gardens with a commanding 66-point lead over his closest competitor, will celebrate his birthday on August 10 before traveling to Cleveland for the procedure scheduled later that month, with performances pushed back to at least October. Clarke secured his latest crown with an energetic, widely praised performance of *Legends From the Grave*, a moving tribute to iconic Trinidadian calypsonian ‘Shadow’ and other legendary figures of the genre, finishing with a total score of 330 points – 66 points ahead of runner-up David ‘Kid Site’ Piggott, who competed with his entry *Talk Like Mia*. Speaking to reporters, Clarke explained that an urgent spinal issue has forced the sudden shift in his post-victory plans. “One of the discs in my neck has started to calcify, and it’s pressing on my spinal cord,” he shared. “It may not look serious on the surface, but it’s already causing significant problems. I’m having two discs removed, and I’ll need to stay in Cleveland through at least August 23 for post-operative checks with my neurologist.” Clarke noted that he has not finalized any major victory celebration, though he is considering a small, low-key event featuring fellow artists from his De Big Show tent, a live band, and a modest door donation to cover costs, ruling out a public motorcade. He added that the medical team in Cleveland will monitor both his spinal recovery and his vocal cords during the procedure, a key advantage that gives him confidence he will return to performing by October if his recovery goes according to plan. Even before he won this year’s crown, Clarke says he already has performance requests stretching as far as Africa, which he expects to fulfill once cleared by his medical team. Friday night’s final did not come without controversy around the judges’ scoring, which sparked mixed reactions from the packed crowd of more than 8,000 attendees. Many audience members voiced disappointment with the decision to place Piggott in second place, while third-place finisher Ian ‘i-Web’ Webster, who earned 236 points for his crowd-pleasing entry *Colours in B*, received far more positive public feedback. Multiple attendees also argued that former champion Dequon ‘Quon’ Alleyne, who opened the competition with a standout performance of *Codes*, was unfairly excluded from the top four rankings. Defending champion ‘Mr Blood’ failed to generate his usual enthusiastic audience response with his performance of *Ain’t Leaving*, and ultimately stepped down from the title he held last year, finishing in fourth place to take home the $15,000 fourth-place prize. Full rankings from fifth to 18th place were not released on competition night, though one notable moment came from competitor Chrystal Holder, who teased the final result in her entry *AI Gine Win De Crown*, singing the line “AC won it” long before the official announcement. This year’s prize structure departed from past conventions, with Clarke taking home a 2026 GAC EMKOO Elite GX vehicle plus one year of insurance valued at $5,000 BBD, instead of the $100,000 cash prize offered in previous years. Runner-up Piggott earned $40,000 cash, third-place Webster took home $20,000, and fourth-place Mr Blood received $15,000. Fifth place earned $10,000, while sixth through 10th place took home $8,000 each, and 11th through 19th place (including the reserve competitor) earned $6,000 each. The final itself was marked by a last-minute venue change, moving from its original home at Kensington Oval to the National Botanical Gardens to make space for the state funeral of Barbados’ late National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Garfield Sobers. The shift came in direct response to public pressure, and National Cultural Foundation (NCF) CEO Carol Roberts told reporters the organization was pleased with how the event unfolded despite the last-minute changes. “This final wasn’t without its speed bumps, the biggest of which was the venue change,” Roberts said. “As soon as the finalists were confirmed, we consulted with them and the tent managers, and we worked closely with our partners and sponsors to make the new space as comfortable and accommodating as possible for both competitors and attendees. The end result really speaks for itself.” When asked whether the 2025 final would return to Kensington Oval, Roberts noted that the priority this year was honoring Barbados’ national heroes, whose contributions have shaped the country’s global standing. “We can’t predict death,” she explained. “We stand on the shoulders of great, selfless, pioneering Barbadians who built the quality of life we enjoy today and earned our country respect across the world. Honoring them when they pass is non-negotiable. All we can do is get through this Crop Over and hope we don’t have to make another last-minute change for a state funeral next year.”