Pic O De Crop 2026 winner Adrian “AC” Clarke is heading home to Barbados tomorrow, just days after undergoing major neck surgery in Cleveland, Ohio.
Clarke, who captured the Courtesy Pic O De Crop title last month with his winning song Legends From The Grave, underwent what he has dubbed his “bionic neck” procedure last Wednesday.
Despite being just days removed from a three-hour operation, the De Big Show entertainer says he is feeling remarkably well.
“Bionic neck sorted since Wednesday,” Clarke told the Daily Nation yesterday from Cleveland. “I can’t believe how good I am feeling.”
Clarke said the surgery, which was performed at Brainard Surgery Centre, had been pending for several years. He had initially been assessed for the procedure in 2022, but it did not take place.
He previously underwent a similar operation in 2015 involving his C4/C5 vertebrae. This time, the problem was at C5/C6.
“I have been constantly in pain as the disc was pressed into my spinal cord,” he said.
Clarke credited his surgeon, Dr Deborah Blades, for helping to finally bring an end to the problem.
“Dr Blades made herself available to see me and about six weeks later here we are . . . . Surgeon was brilliant . . . . Wonderful lady.”
While Clarke has described the operation as his “bionic neck”, procedures of this type commonly involve an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). In that operation, a surgeon approaches the cervical spine through a small incision at the front of the neck, removes the damaged disc that is pressing on the spinal cord or nerves, and places a bone graft or implant in the space.
Clarke said his condition had affected more than his ability to cope with pain.
“I have been in competition and in pain for years,” he said. “Poor balance, inability to play sports, tingling hands and weakness in certain limbs all caused by the pinching.”
But the condition did not stop him from pursuing his Pic O De Crop title. Clarke said he was mentally prepared for the surgery that would follow.
“I expected to win. I said it to who I could since last year,” he said. “I knew I had a different idea that no one else will think of, so with a good performance I intended to win. No joke!”
“Winning felt great but I knew surgery was coming right after and mentally I was prepared. Been there, done that sort of thinking.”
Now, however, his immediate priority is recovery.
Clarke said he was currently “very” hoarse, something that is not unusual following surgery involving the front of the neck.
“I guess it’s up to me and my body when I will be singing and stuff again,” he said.
“I am feeling really good but trying not to overdo. Don’t want to mess the process up.”
Despite the need for recovery, Clarke is already looking beyond his rehabilitation.
“Nothing changes,” he said. “I will still be running my small business and looking for more business and hopefully singing and performing while doing some writing.”
He also expects travel to feature heavily in his plans through 2027 and said he was already receiving requests from artistes locally and regionally seeking his help with songs and ideas.
He will also collect the prize attached to his Pic O De Crop victory, an SUV, on Thursday.
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