This week on the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown, we count down the twenty most-played songs on the Bluegrass Today airplay chart. The chart is compiled from bluegrass radio stations across the United States and reflects what broadcasters are spinning this week.

The countdown features a brand new #1 song, along with eight songs making their debut and seven returning to the chart. It’s another busy week on the chart with plenty of movement throughout the Top 20.

Along the way we also take a short musical detour to mark the 25th anniversary of the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?. The soundtrack from that film introduced acoustic roots music to millions of listeners around the world, and we revisit a few memorable performances from the album including Tim Blake Nelson, the Peasall Sisters, the Cox Family with Alison Krauss, and of course the Soggy Bottom Boys with Man of Constant Sorrow.

As always, the show features the latest bluegrass releases along with background notes about the artists and the songs making their way up this week’s chart.

Thanks for listening to the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown, produced and presented by Mike Kear in Sydney, Australia.

This week on the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown we run down the most-played songs on bluegrass radio, based on the BluegrassToday.com airplay chart.

There are Four brand new debuts on the chart this week, including new music from Della Mae, Nick Dumas, and Milan Miller. We also hear from longtime favourites like Blue Highway, Dailey & Vincent, Ashby Frank, and Wyatt Ellis.

Trey Hensley appears twice on the chart this week, while Chris Jones & The Night Drivers continue their strong run with one of the most consistent hits on the chart in recent months.

And at the top this week, Buddy Melton’s “Blue Skies” returns to the number one spot once again — proof that this song has truly found a home with bluegrass radio.

Along the way we also check in with the BluegrassToday Weekly Grassicana Chart, and play some of the top songs from this week's chart. You can also check out some of the songs that didnt makt it to the podcast at our patreon page http://patreon.com/bttop20

Thanks for listening, and remember — you can always find the full chart at BluegrassToday.com/Chart.

It’s another big week on the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown, with a brand-new number one, four songs making their debut, and six tracks returning to the countdown.

Taking over the top spot this week is Daniel Grindstaff & The Uptown Troubadours with “We See Love,” jumping from a debut at #11 last week straight to #1.

There’s a tie for #2 this week between The Lonesome River Band with “Bernadette” and Larry Cordle with “This Weary Road,” while strong movers, former chart-toppers, and fresh new voices keep things moving right across the Top 20.

You’ll hear new music from Dailey & Vincent, Caroline Owens, and Volume Five, plus returning favourites from Trey Hensley, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, Buddy Melton, Irene Kelley, Nick Dumas, and many more.

From classic traditional sounds to modern bluegrass energy, it’s a packed two hours of the music bluegrass fans are loving this week.

Thanks for listening — and congratulations to all the artists on the chart.

Welcome to Show 182 of the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown, coming to you from Sydney, Australia.

This week we’ve got an extra-special brand new #1 song, plus a chart absolutely bursting with movement — including six debut songs and six returning favourites making their way back into the Top 20.

We’ll also feature the Top 5 from the BluegrassToday Gospel Chart, and spotlight a great new song from Tina Adair, along with plenty of the best and latest bluegrass from today’s top artists.

Two solid hours of today’s most-played bluegrass music, straight from the BluegrassToday radio airplay chart.

Thanks for listening, and for supporting bluegrass radio around the world.

Countdown number 181 is in the books, with a busy and lively chart this week.

We’ve got two songs debuting on the countdown, along with nine returning favourites, based on the BluegrassToday airplay survey of the world’s most influential bluegrass DJs, conducted last week and published on Friday.

This week’s countdown features new and returning music from Billy Strings, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Trey Hensley, Milan Miller, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, and many more — plus a strong showing from independent artists alongside major bluegrass labels.

🔹 Longest-running song this week:
Shelby Means’ Streets of Boulder, now 18 weeks on the chart and already a two-time #1.

🔹 Big movers:
Rebekah Speer jumps from #20 straight into the Top 10.
Several songs continue to dominate the upper reaches of the chart, spending most of their time in the Top Four.

🔹 This week’s #1 song:
Buddy Melton – Blue Skies
Now in its ninth week on the chart, this marks its second visit to the top spot.

To round out the show, we also feature the Top 5 songs from the BluegrassToday Gospel Chart, adding nearly twenty minutes of uplifting bluegrass gospel from Authentic Unlimited, Ashleigh Graham, Nick Chandler & Delivered, Eighteen Mile, and a tie at #1 between Pitney Meyer and Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road.

Hosted by Mike Kear, from Sydney, Australia.
Thanks for listening — and we’ll do it all again next week.

This week’s BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown is one of those charts that tells a bigger story.

We’ve got a returning number one, a long-awaited debut, and strong staying power across the board — with more than half the chart made up of songs that listeners and programmers keep coming back to. In fact, eleven tracks return to the countdown this week, proving that connection and longevity still count.

Along the way, we also take time to shine a light beyond the Top 20, with selections from the BluegrassToday Gospel and Grassicana charts — songs that broaden the picture of what’s resonating across bluegrass, Americana, and roots music right now.

From hard-driving tradition to thoughtful songwriting and gospel classics, this episode reflects the depth and diversity of today’s bluegrass world — all wrapped up in a chart shaped entirely by radio airplay.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy the music.
Cheers
Mike Kear
Windsor NSW Australia

Welcome to Show #179 of the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown, coming to you from Sydney, Australia.

This week’s program features:

• 🎵 All 20 songs from the BluegrassToday Weekly Airplay Chart played IN FULL
  
  
• 🎶 Plus seven additional tracks from the BluegrassToday Grassicana Chart played IN FULL
  
  

There’s plenty of movement on the chart this week, with:

• ✅ A brand new number one
  
  
• ✅ Two songs making their debut on the countdown
  
  
• ✅ Eleven songs returning to the chart
  
  

The countdown is based on the BluegrassToday.com radio airplay survey, published Friday evening.

Along the way, you’ll hear new music from Lydia Hamby and NewFound Road, strong climbers from The Infamous Stringdusters, Wyatt Ellis, and Alison Krauss & Union Station, and a dramatic leap to the top of the chart by Chris Jones & The Night Drivers.

Thanks for listening — and be sure to join us again next week for another look at what’s moving on the bluegrass charts.

This week’s edition is a little later than usual — thanks for your patience.

In this episode we count down the Top 20 bluegrass songs from the BluegrassToday.com airplay chart, plus a special feature on the Top 5 songs from the BluegrassToday Weekly Gospel Chart.

An unusual chart week too — for the first time in the history of this countdown there are no debut songs and no new #1, a reminder that strong songs can hold their ground when the field is tight.

You’ll hear music this week from artists including The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Billy Strings, Junior Sisk, Shelby Means, Milan Miller, Ashby Frank, Daniel Grindstaff & The Uptown Troubadours, Appalachian Road Show, Irene Kelley, Trey Hensley, and many more.

Along the way there’s background on the songs, the writers, the recordings, and the stories behind the music — plus a look at what’s happening across the bluegrass charts right now.

🎶 Also this week

We feature the Top 5 songs from the BluegrassToday Weekly Gospel Chart, highlighting some of the strongest current gospel releases being played on bluegrass radio.

🌐 Song list and extras

You can find the full song list in the BluegrassToday charts at BluegrassToday.com/chart for this episode.

📩 Get in touch

Questions, comments, or song suggestions are always welcome.
Mike’s email is bttop20@gmail.com

Thanks for listening — and enjoy the countdown.

— Mike Kear
Sydney, Australia