Folk Music Radio Airplay Chart
September 2026, Week 1

Compiled by Richard Gillmann
From Playlists Submitted to FOLKDJ-L

TOP ALBUMS of September 2026, Week 1
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 2273 plays from 87 playlists from 64 Folk DJs

  1: "Smoketree," The Kennedys [Self, 8/2026] (25)
        "Smoketree" (5)
        "Without Us" (5)
        "Seeds Of Peace" (4)
  2: "Trio," Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris [Warner, 1987] (17)
        "Wildflowers" (6)
  3: "Troubadourly Yours," Scott Cook [Release Guru, 8/2026] (16)
        "Troubadourly Yours" (5)
        "Steady for You" (3)
        "From Here on the Curve" (2)
        "A Bigger Tent" (2)
        "Frankie's Braids" (2)
  4: "Little Sparrow," Dolly Parton [Sugar Hill, 2001] (14)
        "Little Sparrow" (6)
        "Bluer Pastures" (2)
        "In The Sweet By And By" (2)
        "Mountain Angel" (2)
  5: "So Much for Goodbyes," Billy Strings [Reprise, 7/2026] (12)
        "Bluewater Breakdown" (2)
        "I'm One of Those" (2)
        "I Like Train Songs" (2)
  6: "Williams Branch Is Hard to Find," Carla Gover & Friends [Legacy, 9/2026] (10)
        "Moonshiner's Daughter" (2)
        "Hear That Sound ft. Sarah Kate Morgan" (2)
  7: "The Grass Is Blue," Dolly Parton [Sugar Hill, 1999] (9)
        "I Am Ready" (2)
  7: "Home-Brewed," Kate Macleod's Mind the Gap [Courier, 8/2026] (9)
        "I Will Sing My Heart Out" (4)
        "The Old Charles Town Pike" (2)
  7: "Reunion," Mama's Broke [Free Dirt, 5/2026] (9)
        "Failing" (4)
 10: "Head Noise," Stephanie Sammons [Point Guard, 8/2026] (8)
        "Lone Coyote" (3)
        "Darkest Hours" (2)
        "Midlife Twilight" (2)
 10: "Requiem for a Sleepless Night," Kelly Hunt [Compass, 8/2026] (8)
        "All the King's Horses" (3)
 10: "Tonight's News," Ken Pomeroy [Rounder] (8)
        "This Old Guitar" (3)
        "Deportee" (2)
        "Late for the Sky" (2)
 13: "The Morning Dark," Hayden Stern [Adhyâropa, 9/2026] (7)
        "The Morning Dark" (3)
 13: "Over the Horizon," Giselle & Erik [Self, 9/2026] (7)
        "Little One" (2)
        "Morning Brew" (2)
 13: "Reel 2 Reel 4 Real," Ray Wylie Hubbard [Soundly] (7)
        "A Murder Of Crows" (3)
 13: "This Village," Ranky Tanky [Self, 8/2026] (7)
        "Stomp It In The Ground" (2)
        "Be Alright" (2)
 17: "Great Television," Elizabeth Cook [Agent Love] (6)
        "19th Nervous Breakdown" (2)
        "Girls of Atomic City" (2)
 17: "Halos And Horns," Dolly Parton [Sugar Hill, 2002] (6)
        "Halos & Horns" (2)
 17: "Heirloom," Admiral Radio [Free Dirt] (6)
        "Sidewalk Preacher" (2)
 17: "In the Hour of Chaos," Allison Russell [Fantasy, 7/2026] (6)
        "Really Real" (3)
        "Chaos Theory" (2)
 17: "Jolene," Dolly Parton [RCA] (6)
        "I Will Always Love You" (3)
        "Jolene" (3)
 17: "Just Because I'm A Woman," Various Artists [Sugar Hill] (6)
        "To Daddy," Emmylou Harris (1)
 17: "Rattlin' Bones," Bronwyn [Sugar Petunia, 8/2026] (6)
        "Sticks and Stones" (2)
 24: "Songs for the Heavy Hearted," Chris Pierce [CMG] (5/7)
        "First Day of School" (2)
 24: "Just Say Yes," Ruthie Foster [SUN] (5/6)
        "Hold On" (2)
 24: "The Breakdown," Keb' Mo' [Concord] (5)
        "More Yesterdays" (2)
 24: "Coat of Many Colors," Dolly Parton [RCA, 1971] (5)
        "Coat of Many Colors" (5)
 24: "The Complete Trio Collection," Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris [Rhino, 2016] (5)
        "Waltz Across Texas" (1)
 24: "Diving In," Lynn Hollyfield [Self, 7/2026] (5)
        "Diving In" (1)
 24: "Eagle When She Flies," Dolly Parton [Columbia] (5)
        "Eagle When She Flies" (2)
        "Wildest Dreams" (2)
 24: "Evoke," Mimi Obonsawin [Self] (5)
        "Worthy" (2)
 24: "In the Meantime," Brant Miller [Miller Woods, 8/2026] (5)
        "Sometimes You Just Gotta Let It Go" (2)
 24: "Lucky Broke Girl," Brittany Ann Tranbaugh [Self, 8/2026] (5)
        "Dinner With A Divorcee" (3)
 24: "Mayday!," George Mann & Si Kahn [Legacy, 7/2026] (5)
        "Stranger in This Land" (1)
 24: "Modern Day Vagabond," Dallas Burrow [Forty Below] (5)
        "Modern Day Vagabond" (3)
        "Let It Shine" (2)
 24: "Pilgrimage," Leeroy Stagger [Cordova Bay, 8/2026] (5)
        "Dogwood Flower" (2)
        "Summer Rain" (2)
 24: "Reckoning," Mary Gauthier [Thirty Tigers] (5)
        "Alcohol and Adderall" (4)
 24: "These Are the Days That Turn In To Years," Pharis & Jason Romero [Self, 5/2026] (5)
        "Everybody Wants" (2)
        "Last Call" (2)
 24: "Those Were The Days," Dolly Parton [Sugar Hill, 2005] (5)
        "Both Sides Now" (2)
 24: "Volver A Celaya," Steve Earle & Los Lobos [New West] (5)
        "Volver A Celaya" (5)

TOP SONGS of September 2026, Week 1
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 2273 plays from 87 playlists from 64 Folk DJs

1. "Coat of Many Colors" (9)
     from "Coat of Many Colors" (Dolly Parton)
2. "Little Sparrow" (6)
     from "Little Sparrow" (Dolly Parton)
3. "Alcohol and Adderall" (5)
     from "Reckoning" (Mary Gauthier)
3. "Jolene" (5)
     from "Jolene" (Dolly Parton)
3. "Smoketree" (5)
     from "Smoketree" (The Kennedys)
3. "Troubadourly Yours" (5)
     from "Troubadourly Yours" (Scott Cook)
3. "Volver A Celaya" (5)
     from "Volver a Celaya" (Steve Earle & Los Lobos)
3. "Wildflowers" (5)
     from "Trio" (Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris)
3. "Without Us" (5)
     from "Smoketree" (The Kennedys)
10. "9 To 5" (4)
     from "9 to 5 and Odd Jobs" (Dolly Parton)
10. "End of Summer" (4)
     from "The Kitchen Sessions" (John & Sheila Ludgate)
10. "Failing" (4)
     from "Reunion" (Mama's Broke)
10. "I Will Sing My Heart Out" (4)
     from "Home-Brewed" (Kate Macleod's Mind the Gap)
10. "Seeds Of Peace" (4)
     from "Smoketree" (The Kennedys)

TOP ARTISTS of September 2026, Week 1
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 2273 plays from 87 playlists from 64 Folk DJs

1. Dolly Parton (79)
        "Little Sparrow" (14)
2. The Kennedys (28)
        "Smoketree" (25)
3. Scott Cook (17)
        "Troubadourly Yours" (16)
4. Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris (16)
        "Trio" (10)
        "The Complete Trio Collection" (4)
5. Billy Strings (12)
        "So Much for Goodbyes" (12)
6. Carla Gover & Friends (11)
        "Williams Branch Is Hard to Find" (9)
6. Kate Macleod's Mind the Gap (11)
        "Home-Brewed" (9)
8. John McCutcheon (10)
        "Joe Hill's Last Will" (3)
9. Mama's Broke (9)
        "Reunion" (9)
9. Mary Gauthier (9)
        "Reckoning" (5)
9. Ruthie Foster (9)
        "Just Say Yes" (6)
12. Hayden Stern (8)
        "The Morning Dark" (7)
12. Kelly Hunt (8)
        "Requiem for a Sleepless Night" (8)
12. Ken Pomeroy (8)
        "Tonight's News" (8)
12. Stephanie Sammons (8)
        "Head Noise" (8)
16. Ray Wylie Hubbard (7/8)
        "Reel 2 Reel 4 Real" (7)
16. Giselle & Erik (7)
        "Over the Horizon" (7)
16. Joni Mitchell (7)
        "Miles of Aisles" (2)
16. Pete Seeger (7)
        "If I Had A Hammer: Songs Of Hope & Struggle" (2)
16. Ranky Tanky (7)
        "This Village" (7)

TOP LABELS of September 2026, Week 1
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 2273 plays from 87 playlists from 64 Folk DJs

1. Sugar Hill (48)
2. Rounder (39)
3. Red House (37)
4. Warner (28)
5. Columbia (27)
6. Nonesuch (24)
7. Compass (22)
8. Free Dirt (20)
9. New West (18)
10. Smithsonian/Folkways (17)
11. Legacy (16)
12. Release Guru (15)
13. Reprise (14)
14. Thirty Tigers (13)
15. Elektra (12)
16. RCA (11)
17. Rhino (10)
18. Fantasy (9)
18. Philo (9)
18. Vanguard (9)

FOLK DJs - September 2026, Week 1
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 2273 plays from 87 playlists from 64 Folk DJs

Allen Larman (KPFK-FM, CA)
Angela Page (WJFF-FM & folkmusicnotebook.com, NY)
Art Menius (WHUP-LP & WHQR-FM, NC)
Artie Martello (mostlyfolk.org & folkmusicnotebook.com, NY)
Bill Revill (WESU-FM, CT)
Bruce Cameron (2MCE-FM, Australia)
Bruce Swan (WSFM-LP, NC)
Carolyn VandeWiele (WFHB-FM, IN)
Charlie Backfish (WUSB-FM, NY)
Chris Kocher (WHRW-FM, NY)
Cindy Howes (folkalley.com, ME)
Colin Fielding (3INR-FM, Australia)
Craig Huegel (WMNF-FM, FL)
Dan Shramek (KBOO-FM, OR)
David Sears (WBGU-FM & syndicated, OH)
Denis McGilvray (KWGS-FM, OK)
Dick Hermans (WKZE-FM, NY)
Don Jacobson (KBOO-FM, OR)
Ed Mellnick (KBOO-FM, OR)
Ellen Stanley (KFAI-FM & folkmusicnotebook.com, MN)
Eureka Mike (WFCF-FM & thesonicplanet.com, FL)
Gerry Goodfriend (CKUT-FM, QC)
Gordon Nash (folkmusicnotebook.com)
Graham Dean & Barbara Dean (WBCR-LP, MA)
JB Nuttle (WSDL-FM, MD)
Jack Dugan (WIOX-FM & thesonicplanet.com, NY)
Jan Vanderhorst (justusfolk.com, ON)
Jenny Flux (2BBB-FM, Australia)
Jim Canales (WWSP-FM, WI)
Jim Gilliland (WRUW-FM, OH)
Jim Marino (CFMU-FM, ON)
Joe Pszonek (folkmusicnotebook.com, SC)
Johnny Bazzano (KRCB-FM, CA)
Justin Helmer (KVSC-FM, MN)
Karen Rakos (KEUL-FM, AK)
Kevin Elliott (WEFT-FM, IL)
Len Holton (KUAR-FM & mixcloud.com, MI)
Lilli Kuzma (WDCB-FM, IL)
Mark Michaelis (WGDR/WGDH-FM, VT)
Menachem Vinegrad (Radio Upper Galilee & folkmusicnotebook.com, Israel)
Michael Alzo (WSLU-FM, NY)
Michael Benson (WESU-FM, CT)
Mike Regenstreif (CKCU-FM, ON)
Mitch Park (Radio Hawke's Bay & Radio Kidnappers, New Zealand)
Nick Noble (WICN-FM, MA)
Norm Mast (WVPE-FM, IN)
Paul Hartman (WTMD-FM, MD)
Paul Hefti (KUTZ-FM & mixcloud.com, UT)
Pete Thomas (WAER-FM, NY)
Richard Howard (KZMU-FM, UT)
Ron Cooke (KTAL-LP, NM)
Ron Olesko (folkmusicnotebook.com, NJ)
Sarah LaDuke (folkalley.com, NY)
Sherre Birenbaum (therootsfm.org, MO)
Steve Edge (CiTR-FM & syndicated, QC)
Stu Weaver (WFCF-FM, FL)
Sue Kessell (WNUR-FM, IL)
Susan Forbes Hansen (WHUS-FM & WWUH-FM, CT)
Taylor Caffery (WRKF-FM, LA)
Terry B. Moses & Naomi Soule (KCLC-FM, MO)
Tom Coxworth (CKUA-FM, AB)
Tom Druckenmiller (WDIY-FM & podcast, PA)
Wally Bowen (KOCF-LP, OR)
Wanda Fischer (mixcloud.com, NY)