Bill Cody, one of the most celebrated personalities in American country radio and a long-serving announcer for the Grand Ole Opry, has died in Nashville, Variety reports. He was 67.
The veteran broadcaster passed away on Tuesday following a period of severe illness. In late May, his daughter revealed that he was in critical condition and required both heart and kidney transplants to survive. The country music community had rallied around the family with calls for prayer in his final days.
Announcing the news on Facebook on Tuesday evening, his son David thanked the public for their overwhelming support. He expressed gratitude for the sincere prayers over recent weeks and noted that the family felt a deep peace despite their loss.
A pillar of country music
Bill Cody became a staple of Nashville’s WSM-AM network in 1994. He was best known for fronting the beloved morning broadcast Coffee, Country & Cody, which became a mandatory stop for both rising stars and established country music legends over its impressive 32-year run.
Following the announcement of his death, tributes poured in from some of the genre’s biggest names. Garth Brooks stated that nobody loved country music more than Cody. Dierks Bentley described him as a pillar of the genre who was just as integral to the fabric of the city as any musician or songwriter. Singer Carly Pearce also paid her respects by calling him a friend who devoted his life to telling the story of country music.
Patrick Moore, the chief executive of Opry Entertainment, praised Cody’s profound gravitas, his incredible voice and his infectious enthusiasm. He noted that the presenter brightened the days of everyone fortunate enough to work alongside him.
From Kentucky to the Grand Ole Opry
Born Trent Clutts, he discovered his passion for broadcasting at the age of 12. His father, a Southern Baptist minister in Lebanon, Kentucky, recorded weekly sermons and took his son along to drop off the cassette tapes at a local radio station. Fascinated by the environment, the young boy began spending time at the studio to watch the presenters at work.
At 17, he answered a job advert for the WVLK station in Lexington. Asked to adopt a stage name by his new employers, he chose Bill Cody in honour of his childhood hero Buffalo Bill.
Throughout his illustrious career, Cody hosted numerous television and radio programmes including Opry Country Classics, Tennessee’s Wild Side and Pure American Country. His immense contributions to the industry were widely recognised. He was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2008 and received a star on the Music City Walk of Fame earlier this year. He is also set to be posthumously inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.
To honour his enduring legacy, this Saturday’s live broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry will be dedicated entirely to BillCody. Furthermore, WSM plans to air a special marathon featuring unforgettable moments from his morning show to celebrate his profound impact on the station and the wider community.
