What it is
A short show about a big story
Kned Right in the Middle takes the huge, tangled history of American music and serves it in pieces you can actually enjoy. Each episode is short, a little playful, and built to leave you knowing something you did not know a minute ago.
The show is tied to America 250, the celebration of the country's 250th anniversary. Kelly digs into the songs, artists, and moments behind American music and tells the story the way a great teacher would, without the homework.
Right now the run centers on America 250. Down the road, the show heads deeper into the history of rock and roll, country, jazz, and hip hop.
Now showing
Watch the show
New episodes land on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube (look for Shorts), and there are already more than 40 to catch up on, with dozens more recorded and on the way. Follow along to see each new one and browse the full run.
Fun Facts
Quick hits of American music history you will actually remember.
Where's Kned Today?
A recurring bit that drops you into a moment or a place in the story of American music.
Title Reveals
Short, playful reveals that connect the songs, the artists, and the bigger picture.
Meet your host
Kelly Knedler
Kelly has spent 30 years in front of singers, students, and audiences, and it shows. He teaches vocal music in Kansas and has led choirs in public, private, and college settings across Kansas, Colorado, and Arkansas. He holds a music education degree from Fort Hays State University and a master's in choral conducting from the University of Arkansas.
Off the podium, Kelly is a singer and songwriter, an emcee and voiceover artist, a sports announcer, and a stage veteran of nearly 70 productions over four decades. For the last ten years he has performed as Chalkley Beeson in the Long Branch Variety Show at Dodge City's Boot Hill Museum.
Kned Right in the Middle brings all of that together: a lifelong love of American music, a teacher's knack for making it stick, and a showman's sense of fun.
For teachers
Built to work in a classroom
Every episode runs short on purpose, which makes it an easy drop-in for warm-up or bell work at the start of a music class.
Kelly is a working music teacher, and he has built a set of free worksheets to pair with episodes, so a fun fact turns into a real lesson. Print one, project it, or hand it out. All seven are free to download and use in your classroom.
Where in the Midwest?
A map-tracking sheet. Students mark each episode's location across the Midwest as the show visits new states.
Download PDFThe Week in Facts
A five-day log for tracking the number, title, location, and summary of each American Music Fact.
Download PDFMusic Fact Analysis
A graphic organizer covering summary, sketching, connections, and a "did you know" prompt for one episode.
Download PDFDraw a Fact
A simple draw-and-summarize sheet for younger students or a quick warm-up activity.
Download PDFConnect a Fact
Students research the day's fact further and place it on a timeline running from 1776 to today.
Download PDFAnalyzin' Music Facts
A four-box organizer for summarizing, connecting, and questioning the day's American Music Fact.
Download PDF3-2-1 Info
A quick reflection sheet: three things learned, two questions, and one location, for wrap-up or review.
Download PDFTaking It Further
Students research beyond the fact itself: connections to other facts, the era, and Kned's location, then draw it.
Download PDFThe 25-er
A 25-day running log. Students track the fact number, title, and a one-sentence summary for each day.
Download PDFHave a request for a worksheet tied to a specific episode? Send a note and Kelly will help.
Ask about classroom useSay hello
Get in touch
Got a guest idea, a music-industry lead, a classroom question, or just want to say the show made you smile? Reach out.
Be a guest or send a note
Get updates
A quick heads-up when new episodes and features drop. No spam, and you can leave anytime.
Prefer email? Write to knedrightinthemiddle@gmail.com.
Good to know
Questions, answered
What is Kned Right in the Middle?
Kned Right in the Middle is a short-form video show about American music history and trivia. Host Kelly Knedler shares fun facts, quick stories, and title reveals tied to America 250, the country's 250th anniversary celebration.
Where can I watch the show?
New episodes post on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where they run under the Shorts heading. Facebook is the show's main home for now. Follow any of the three to catch each new episode and browse the full run of past ones.
Who hosts Kned Right in the Middle?
The show is hosted by Kelly Knedler, a Kansas music educator in his 30th year of teaching vocal music. He is also a singer, songwriter, emcee, and longtime stage performer, and he brings all of it to the show.
Can I be a guest, or use the show in my classroom?
Yes. Kelly welcomes guest ideas, music-industry interviews, and teachers who want to use episodes as classroom warm-ups. Free worksheets are available to download on this page, and you can use the contact form to reach the show.