Terri Lyons: From Being Put Out to Calypso Monarch | The Corie Sheppard Podcast

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we sit with Terri Lyons — Calypso Monarch, Queen of Queens, performer, and cultural torchbearer — for an expansive conversation on calypso, resilience, legacy, and Caribbean identity. Terri unpacks what it truly means to represent Trinidad & Tobago on regional stages such as Montserrat and Carifesta, the responsibility that comes with being crowned Queen of Queens, and why claims that calypso is dying completely miss the point. She reflects on commanding performances, crowd connection, and the discipline behind her powerful stage presence. The conversation moves into Terri’s early life in Port of Spain and Laventille, growing up without financial security, navigating loss and trauma, and how those experiences shaped her resilience, creative drive, and refusal to be boxed in by industry expectations. She speaks candidly about motherhood, survival, financial discipline, and staying authentic in a challenging music landscape. We also explore: The craft and strategy of calypso performance Writing songs without rhythms and building music from melody and story Paying homage to icons like Black Stalin and Shadow Radio politics, cultural gatekeeping, and who decides what gets heard Why calypso must connect with youth without losing its roots Longevity, ownership, and making music work as a business Her standout songs including “I Am Lion,” “Ask Yuh Man,” “Blessings,” and “Fling Bam Bam” Competing in Skinner Park, tent culture, and the modern calypso circuit This episode is a masterclass in Caribbean excellence, cultural preservation, and personal grit — filled with humour, honesty, and hard-earned insight from one of Trinidad & Tobago’s most compelling calypsonians. 00:00 Introduction – Corie welcomes Calypso Monarch & Queen of Queens, Terri Lyons 01:30 Winning Queen of Queens & performing in Montserrat 04:10 What “Queen of Queens” really means 06:40 The story behind “Blessings” 09:00 Learning songs in chaos & stage discipline 11:20 Doubt, competition & being the underdog 13:00 2020 Calypso Monarch win & holding the title 14:20 Paying homage to Shadow, Black Stalin & calypso history 17:00 Why calypso is not dying 21:30 Connecting calypso to youth & education 24:00 Background vocals, collaborations & studio grind 27:30 Songwriting, double entendre & sharp storytelling 29:45 Carifesta Barbados & an iconic performance moment 31:40 Growing up in Port of Spain & Laventille 36:00 Childhood trauma, survival & self-therapy 39:40 Financial discipline & paying off her home 43:00 Style, image & not living beyond your means 46:00 Band life, New York & $200 shows 49:30 Writing songs without a rhythm 52:00 “I Am Lion” & working with Nadia Batson 56:00 Ask Yuh Man, Skinner Park & pushing through adversity 59:00 Radio politics & cultural gatekeeping 01:03:00 Fling Bam Bam & crossing into soca 01:05:30 Tent life, competition & the 2026 season 01:07:30 Picong, fearlessness & calypso truth-telling 01:09:30 Legacy, gratitude & final reflections