This week’s Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown is packed with great music — including a brand-new #1 from Ashby Frank, multiple debuts, and a few big returners climbing back toward the top. We’ve also got a listener request from Tasmania featuring the Bray Brothers & Red Cravens, plus new singles from Wyatt Ellis, Alison Brown & Steve Martin, and more.

Along the way, I share stories behind the songs and artists, a snippet of the original version of an Alison Krauss & Union Station track for comparison, and some deep cuts from my own library to round out the hour.

Highlights include:

This episode of the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown features four debut songs, three return entries, and the reigning #1: Benson’s “Lover of the Road.”

You'll hear chart-topping tracks from Alison Krauss & Union Station, Chris Jones, Appalachian Road Show, and Daniel Grindstaff. Plus, Jesse Smathers and Hammertowne make strong first appearances, while Milan Miller’s “Tony Rice Tattoo” becomes the longest-running song on the countdown.

This week also includes a special segment featuring all five nominees for IBMA Gospel Recording of the Year. Let your ears—and your heart—help you decide who deserves to win it.

Join host Mike Kear from Sydney, Australia, as he shares backstories, artist insights, and the most-played bluegrass songs of the week, based on the official BluegrassToday.com radio airplay chart.

This week on the BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown, your host — Agent 254 himself, Mike Kear in Sydney, Australia— is back with another round of bluegrass chart action.

🎵 We count down the Top 20 most-played bluegrass songs of the week.
 🔥 A new #1 song that climbed to the top in just its second week on the chart.
🆕 Six debuts and five returning tracks keep the chart moving.
🎯 Plus, a quick detour to visit a few songs that “missed it by THAT much.”

As always, there’s music, stories, and just enough mischief to keep you wondering if the Cone of Silence is still working.

Follow or subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app — or stream it directly from http://podomatic.com/bttop20   It helps us keep the bluegrass flowing!

It’s a big week on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown — we’ve got a brand new Number 1, four debut entries, and seven songs making their return! Mike takes us through the Top 20 IN FULL, plus we feature two standout tracks from the Grassicana chart based on last week’s survey,  and five songs from the albums nominated for IBMA 2025 Album of the Year.

This week’s show includes music from:

Also featuring songs by The Steeldrivers and Wood Box Heroes, and a whole lot of chart movement, surprises, and behind-the-scenes stories.

📍 Produced in Sydney, Australia — heard worldwide.
 🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Join Mike Kear in Sydney for this week’s Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown, featuring the 20 most-played bluegrass songs worldwide according to the Bluegrass Today radio survey published Friday night. Every chart song is played in full, so you get to hear exactly what’s making waves on bluegrass radio right now.

This week’s show also includes a special feature on the Grassicana chart, showcasing songs with strong bluegrass roots that branch out into Americana, folk, and country influences. It’s a great chance to hear the best of what’s new and fresh across the whole roots music landscape.

Settle in and enjoy the very best in bluegrass and beyond.

You can catch the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown as a podcast where we play full songs,   all of them in the top 20 Chart anytime. Just search in your favorite podcast app. And for the full chart details, head to BluegrassToday.com. Plus, if you want to hear bonus segments and extras that don’t make it to air, check out our Patreon page at patreon.com/BTTop20  

Welcome to the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown – your guide to the 20 most-played bluegrass songs on radio this week! Join host Mike Kear as he counts them down, sharing artist stories, songwriter credits, and behind-the-scenes insights straight from the world of bluegrass.

Each week’s show is based on the authoritative BluegrassToday.com airplay chart, keeping you up to date with the latest hits, fresh debuts, and fast risers in the genre.

Tune in for two hours of the best in bluegrass – from traditional favorites to cutting-edge new releases – plus special segments, artist interviews, and more.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and enjoy the music that keeps bluegrass vibrant and alive around the world!

 This is the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown — the radio show and podcast that brings you the 20 most-played songs in bluegrass, based on the official BluegrassToday.com airplay chart. Hosted by Mike Kear in Sydney, Australia, and broadcast on great radio stations around the world, each episode features the latest hits, artist stories, and a few personal favourites thrown in for good measure. This week’s show runs 1 hour and 48 minutes and includes optional spaces for local content if aired on radio. 

It’s another big week on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown! This time, we’ve got a new number 1 song — plus six fresh debuts, some long-running chart favorites, and a few surprises along the way.

We also take a moment to highlight what’s happening over on the Bluegrass Gospel chart, with top songs from Junior Sisk, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, and Mark Houser featuring Rhonda Vincent. And we check in with the Grassicana chart to feature one of the hottest rising voices, Caroline Owens, with her brand-new single.

Host Mike Kear brings you artist stories, songwriting credits, and a few personal reflections along the way — including a heartfelt new song from Gena Britt written in memory of her dad for Father’s Day.

It’s 1 hour and 40 minutes of the best in contemporary bluegrass — from the chart-toppers to the hidden gems.

A slightly-late-but-worth-the-wait edition packed with a brand-new #1 that’s shot up from last week’s #20, 4 fresh debuts, 7 returning favourites, and a rare tie at #17 — so you’re getting 21 songs instead of 20!

Host Mike Kear is joined by acclaimed songwriter Brink Brinkman, who shares stories and insights — including the backstory of his personal favourite song, “Bluefield Mountain Wind,” recorded by Greg Blake.

Plus: a heartfelt tribute to Rod and Judy Jones on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society of Australia.

Full songs. No edits. All heart.
Hit play — it’s a good one.