• Episode 136: BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown 31/August/2025
    Sep 1 2025

    This week’s Countdown has it all — comebacks, debuts, big moves, and a brand-new #1 from Zeb Snyder with “Dollar Bill Blues.” Hear every song in full, plus an interview about MountainGrass, Australia’s premier bluegrass event.

    This week’s BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown is packed with action on the chart:

    • Zeb Snyder rockets from #14 all the way to #1 with his stunning take on Dollar Bill Blues.

    • Appalachian Road Show return to the Top 3 with Della Jane’s Heart, a song that’s already been #1 four times.

    • Benson keep the pressure on with Lover of the Road, holding strong near the top.

    • We’ve also got debuts from Darin & Brooke Aldridge and a second appearance this week by Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, this time featuring Jim Lauderdale.

    There’s even more packed in:

    • An interview about MountainGrass, the premier bluegrass event in Australia.

    • Fresh stories and insights behind the songs and artists.

    • And a few surprises along the way.

    As always, you’ll hear every song in full, so settle in and enjoy the very best of today’s bluegrass.

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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • Episode 135: The Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown 24 August 2025
    Aug 25 2025

    The BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown with Mike Kear — direct from Windsor, Australia. This week’s chart plus Bluegrass on the Rise, five fast-rising tracks rocketing toward the Top 20.

    We count down the 20 most played songs in bluegrass radio, direct from the BluegrassToday airplay chart — plus we spotlight five fast-rising tracks in our Bluegrass on the Rise segment, songs that are rocketing up the chart and could be Top 20 before long.

    Featured this week:

    • Vickie Vaughn Band – Leavin’
    • Billy Strings – Leaning on a Travelin’ Song
    • Tony Trischka (feat. Vince Gill) – Bury Me Beneath the Willow
    • Chris Davis – Gold Rush Town
    • Kody Norris Show – Tennessee

    You’ll also hear news, backstories, and a full 108 minutes of bluegrass radio — with every song played in full.

    Whether you’re tuning in from the U.S., Australia, or anywhere else in the world, you’ll get the very best of today’s bluegrass music, straight from the source.

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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • Episode 134: BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown 24/Aug/2025
    Aug 25 2025

    The BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown with Mike Kear — direct from Windsor, Australia. This week’s chart plus Bluegrass on the Rise, five fast-rising tracks rocketing toward the Top 20.

    We count down the 20 most played songs in bluegrass radio, direct from the BluegrassToday airplay chart — plus we spotlight five fast-rising tracks in our Bluegrass on the Rise segment, songs that are rocketing up the chart and could be Top 20 before long.

    Featured this week:

    • Vickie Vaughn Band – Leavin’
    • Billy Strings – Leaning on a Travelin’ Song
    • Tony Trischka (feat. Vince Gill) – Bury Me Beneath the Willow
    • Chris Davis – Gold Rush Town
    • Kody Norris Show – Tennessee

    You’ll also hear news, backstories, and a full 108 minutes of bluegrass radio — with every song played in full.

    Whether you’re tuning in from the U.S., Australia, or anywhere else in the world, you’ll get the very best of today’s bluegrass music, straight from the source.

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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • Episode 133: Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown 10/Aug/2025
    Aug 11 2025

    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:

    • Highest debut of the week: Junior Sisk with The Devil’s Train

    • Former #1s making another run

    • Listener request: Blue Eyed Darling (1961)

    • Extended cut: AJ Lee & Blue Summit’s Glendale Train

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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • Episode 132: BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown 3 Aug 2025
    Aug 4 2025

    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.

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    1 hr and 53 mins
  • Episode 131: BluegrassToday Weekly Top 20 Countdown 28 July 2025
    Jul 28 2025

    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!

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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • Episode 130: Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown 21/July/2025
    Jul 22 2025

    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:

    • Daniel Grindstaff & The Uptown Troubadours
    • Ashby Frank
    • Junior Sisk
    • The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
    • Billy Strings
    • Alison Krauss & Union Station
    • Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
    • Tony Trischka (with Vince Gill)
    • Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
      …and many more.

    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.

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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • Episode 129: The Bluegrass Today Weekly Top 20 Countdown 13 July 2025
    Jul 14 2025

    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.

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    1 hr and 48 mins