The Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown

Latest Episodes:

Episode 182: BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown – Show #214 Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Countdown #214 brings plenty of movement, with a new number one, six debuts, six returning songs and — for the first time since May 24 — no ties at all.

This week’s highest debut comes from Lonesome River Band with “Walking Back to Bluefield,” while other new entries include Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, Daryl Mosley and Songs From The Road Band.

There are also a couple of side trips along the way. We take a look at numbers 5 through 2 on the Grassicana list before returning to Danny Burns’ “Fisherman’s Blues,” which is number one there and number five in the Bluegrass Top 20.

We also feature three selections from this week’s Bluegrass Today Gospel list: Appalachian Road Show with “Long Time Traveling,” Pitney Meyer with “Rivers of Living Water,” and Kenny and Amanda Smith with “The Inventor.” The final two share the number one position on the Gospel list.

And at the top of the main countdown, Milan Miller completes quite a comeback. “Dance Among the Thistle” was out of the Top 20 last week, but returns this week all the way at number one.

Episode 181: BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown 213 Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Countdown 213 brings one of the biggest reshuffles we’ve had in a while.

This week there’s a new number one, with Jaelee Roberts taking “Memories on the Moon” to the top after sitting at number two last week.

Rhonda Vincent makes the highest debut of the week at number two with “Far Away From Home,” while Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen reach a new peak at number three with “Looking Past You.”

There are eight debuts and seven returning songs this week, meaning only five songs from last week’s countdown remain. Ties at number nine and number five also mean we have 22 songs in the Top 20 this time around.

Other highlights include Danny Burns jumping ten places to number four with “Fisherman’s Blues,” Bronwyn appearing twice in the Top Ten, and former number one “Country Boy Rock & Roll” from Wyatt Ellis returning after more than six months away.

We also take a look at the top of the Bluegrass Today Gospel chart, with Backline at number two with “The Gospel Way,” and Caroline Owens featuring The Isaacs at number one with “Old Time Church.”

Join Mike Kear for Countdown 213 and another very busy week in bluegrass.

Episode 180: Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown #211 Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

There’s plenty of movement in this week’s countdown, including two debuts, seven returning songs, a tie at number 19, and a change at the top.

Tim Stafford makes a huge jump from number 11 to number two with Right Amount of Wrong, while several familiar songs return after time away from the Top 20
We also hear new chart action from The Grascals and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, plus strong moves from Milan Miller, Danny Burns, Jaelee Roberts, Buddy Melton, and others.

There’s also time for a quick look at the other Bluegrass Today airplay charts, with Darin & Brooke Aldridge topping the Weekly Gospel chart with You Don’t Knock, and Claire Lynch debuting at number two on the Grassicana chart with Season of Sleep.

And with a little room left on the clock, there’s something extra from Dolly Parton — a wonderfully loose and funny a cappella medley from Live and Well that shows another side of Dolly at work on stage.

Hosted by Mike Kear from Hawkesbury Radio in Sydney, Australia.

Episode 179: BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown #210 Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

A very strange week on the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown — and one where some of the records apparently needed reminding that this is a weekly chart!

There’s a new #1, just one debut, an extraordinary nine returning songs, and two ties — at #20 and #11.

Some of those returns really stretch the definition. Shawn Camp’s Soldier’s Joy 1864 comes back after 21 weeks away, Jeff Brown & Wayne Taylor return after six months, Yonder Mountain String Band after 28 weeks — and Alison Krauss & Union Station reappear after an astonishing 75 weeks!

Meanwhile, several records manage the increasingly remarkable feat of appearing on the countdown for consecutive weeks.

At the top, after a show full of records coming back from the wilderness, the only debut of the week does something completely different: Buddy Melton’s Some Other Small Town debuts at #1. It’s the sixth song performed by Buddy to reach the countdown and his second to make it all the way to #1.

Plus, we check the BluegrassToday Gospel chart, featuring Jeff Tolbert and Primitive Road, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, and a brand-new #1 from Ricky Skaggs.

Two hours of bluegrass — well, one minute short this week, but who’s counting?

Episode 178: Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown number 207 Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

This week on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown, the chart keeps us guessing once again with plenty of movement throughout the Top 20.

There's a new number one, and elsewhere the countdown brings us 3 debut songs, 8 returning favourites, and a tie at number 17, giving us a total of 21 songs this week.

Along the way we hear new music from Darren Nicholson, Laney & Bishop, and Danny Burns, while familiar favourites from The Grascals, Dailey & Vincent, Jaelee Roberts, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, and many more continue their climb.

We also congratulate Daniel Grindstaff & The Uptown Troubadours, whose Grand Ole Opry debut has been recognised with the Power Performance Award at the Mightier Than The Sword Awards, as their recording of "Denver" makes one of the most remarkable chart comebacks we've seen in quite a while.

Join Mike Kear for two hours of the very best in today's bluegrass music, counting down the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 from #20 to this week's #1.

Episode 177: Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown – Show #207 Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

It's another busy week on the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown with plenty of movement throughout the chart.

This week's countdown features:

A new Number One song.
TEN impressive debuts.
A number of returning favourites.
two ties so that means 22 songs on the countdown
The latest movers and shakers from the BluegrassToday Grassicana chart.

Along the way you'll hear music from artists including Bronwyn, Dailey & Vincent, Balsam Range, The Grascals, Milan Miller, Jaelee Roberts and many more, as we count down the twenty most-played songs on bluegrass radio this week.

As always, you'll also hear the stories behind the music, songwriter information, chart highlights, and a few observations from me along the way.

Thank you for listening and for supporting the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend who loves bluegrass music.

I'm Mike Kear, and I hope you'll join me again next week for another trip through the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20.

Episode 176: Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown – Episode 204 Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

his week on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown:

Kenny & Amanda Smith hold on to the number one spot for a second consecutive week with "Tears of the Cherokee."
Dailey & Vincent continue their climb with "Moon Shines on the Still," while Balsam Range, The Grascals, Jaelee Roberts and Milan Miller round out a strong Top 6.
We take a short break from the countdown to visit the Bluegrass Today Gospel Chart, featuring music from Jackson Harris, David Parmley and Buddy Melton.
Plus, there's a spotlight on a brand-new release from Marty Falle, whose latest song, "Song of the Holler," continues his remarkable run of original Appalachian storytelling.

Join Mike Kear for two hours of the biggest songs in bluegrass, artist news, chart movement, songwriter information, and a few laughs along the way.
Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next week for another edition of the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown with Mike Kear.

Episode 175: Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown Episode 203 Jul 12, 2026

Show notes

This week on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown, we count down all twenty-two songs from the latest Bluegrass Today airplay chart (this week there are two ties so there are 22 songs in the top 20).

Along the way, we take a special look at the current Bluegrass Gospel chart, featuring four outstanding songs, including the three recordings sharing the number-one position this week.

Join me for two hours of the very best in today's bluegrass, with new favourites, rising stars, familiar voices and, of course, the week's number-one song.

Featured Bluegrass Gospel songs:

Darin & Brooke Aldridge – Heaven Just Got Sweeter for You
Chosen Road – A God Thing
Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road – Hallelujah Our Lord Is Risen
Darin & Brooke Aldridge featuring Jason Crabb – It'll Be Worth It After All

Thanks for listening, and I hope you'll join me again next week for another Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown.

Episode 174: Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown – Show #202 Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

This week on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown there's a brand new number one, two new entries, and another look at what's happening on the BluegrassToday Grassicana chart.

Join Mike Kear as he counts down the twenty most-played bluegrass songs on Bluegrass Today's weekly airplay chart, with chart facts, artist information, and plenty of great new music from today's bluegrass scene.

Featured artists this week include Jaelee Roberts, Kevin Denney, Bronwyn, Dailey & Vincent, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Mountain, Red Camel Collective, Tony Trischka, and many more.

You'll also hear a special Grassicana segment featuring music from Old Crow Medicine Show with Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury and Molly Tuttle, Caroline Owens, The Infamous Stringdusters, DownRiver Collective, Geary & John, and The Creekers.

Thanks for listening, and if you enjoy the show, please tell your bluegrass-loving friends and help us introduce the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown to even more listeners around the world.

Episode 173: BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown – Show #201 Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

This week we've got another packed edition of the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown featuring the twenty hottest songs in bluegrass, as determined by the airplay reports from broadcasters around the world.

Along the way we'll welcome several newcomers to the chart, catch up with the artists climbing towards the top, and count down all the way to this week's number one song.

This week's programme also includes a special mid-show visit to the Americana chart, featuring four outstanding recordings from Sierra Hull, The Infamous Stringdusters, Old Crow Medicine Show with Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury and Molly Tuttle, and Caroline Owens.

Whether you're a long-time bluegrass fan or just discovering the music, thanks for joining me for another two hours of the very best in contemporary bluegrass and acoustic music.

Enjoy the countdown!

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