The Lioness roared once more—or rather, Terri’s vocal brilliance lit up the stage, captivating both audience and judges with performances powerful enough to claim the Caribbean crown yet again. Kaiso Dial is proud of her remarkable achievement, and we honor her artistry with this post.
Terri Lyons, the defending champion from Trinidad and Tobago, once again showcased her mastery of the regional calypso stage, securing the Delta Petroleum Queen of Queens—Regional Female Calypso Competition with a score of 985 points. Facing a strong lineup of nine performers from across the Caribbean, Lyons claimed her fourth regional crown and the US$7,000 prize, reaffirming her place among the region’s most respected calypsonians.
The opening round showcased the breadth and diversity of female calypso talent across the region. Each performer brought her message, style, and cultural voice to the Carnival City stage:
- Joy Stout—“My Quest for Love” (Dominica)
- Sheviyona “Blessings” Thomas—“One Montserrat” (Montserrat)
- Jenille “Super Star” Simon—“21st Century” (Grenada)
- Geve “Ge’Eve” Phillip—“One Man” (Antigua & Barbuda)
- Natalie Charles, aka “Empress Lyric”—“Black Woman” (Nevis)
- Maggie D—“Protect Our Children” (Montserrat)
- Nyota “Black Pearl” Mulcare—“Too Much Ole Talk” (Montserrat)
- Roselyn Hayes—“Sing It in Kaiso” (Tobago)
- Terri Lyons—“Blessings” (Trinidad & Tobago)
Lyons closed the round with a commanding performance of Blessings, transforming the stage into a CARICOM church tableau supported by the Matrixx Dancers dressed as a choir. Early commentary from calypso analyst Nubia Williams suggested that Ge’Eve’s delivery stood out based on lyrics, melody, rendition, and presentation, but Lyons’ execution ultimately placed her ahead at the halfway mark.
The halftime segment added its sparkle, featuring newly crowned seven‑time Montserrat Calypso Monarch Keithroy “De Bear” Morson alongside his daughter Innistia Morson, the reigning Junior Calypso Monarch—a moment that highlighted calypso’s intergenerational strength.
Round Two Performances
Here is the updated, fully structured list for the second round:
- Joy Stout—“The Ground We Walking On”
- Sheviyona “Blessings” Thomas—“Fearless”
- Jenille “Super Star” Simon—“Flag Draggers”
- Geve “Ge’Eve” Phillip—“Daughter Come”
- Natalie “Empress Lyric” Charles—“Catscan”
- Maggie D—“Soca Come Back”
- Nyota, “Black Pearl.” Mulcare—“De World in Chaos”
- Roselyn Hayes—Tribute to The Mighty Shadow
- Terri Lyons—“I Am Lion”
Lyons’ closing performance, I Am Lion, played cleverly on her surname and celebrated her family’s musical legacy. It sent the crowd into a frenzy and sealed her victory.
The Results
- Terri Lyons - 985 Points 🇹🇹 👑
- Ge'eve Phillip - 947 Points 🇦🇬
- Roselyn Reid-Hayes - 888 Points 🇹🇹
Consecutive Win Years
- 2022: First win with "Obeah" and "Meghan My Dear." 👑
- 2023: Defended with "House Cleaning" and "Calypso." 👑
- 2024: Third win with "Black and Ugly" and "Ask Yuh Man," scoring 1,268 points. 👑
- 2025: Fourth win in Montserrat with "Blessings" and "I Am Lion," scoring 985 points. 👑
The ZJB Radio broadcast, hosted by JGP with commentary from Austin Howe, Herman “Cupid” Francis, De Bear, and Cecile “Cepeke” Lake, offered thoughtful critique throughout the night. Analysts praised Joy’s emotional delivery but noted her limited stage movement, while Blessings showed youthful promise. De Bear observed that although Ge’Eve delivered two strong selections, a touch more vocal restraint could elevate her impact.
As judges deliberated, veteran Nevisian calypsonian King Dis and Dat entertained the audience. The evening also honored the founders of the Regional Female Calypso Competition—Paul Lewis, Eddie Prynze Duberry, and Earl “Accident” Sullivan—whose early efforts helped shape what has now become a respected regional platform under the Montserrat Arts Council.
Empowering Caribbean Creatives
🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Kaiso Dial—Where Rhythm Lives. Calypso, Steelband, and Soca thrive every day, not just at Carnival. 🌴✨ Elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word! 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Kaiso Dial/Calypso Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please press the music player button below to listen now (small triangle in the Music player/TV Frame).
