Eddie Stubbs WSM Retirement Leaves Big Hole in The Circle

A titan of the airwaves and our generation’s voice of country music, Eddie Stubbs, has announced that after 25 years of service at The Legend WSM-AM in Nashville as a DJ and announcer at the Grand Ole Opry, he is retiring. Stubbs announced the retirement on Tuesday night (7-22) during his regular weeknight radio show.
Stubbs gave no explanation for the retirement, but simply stated, “I have had an extremely blessed 25 years at WSM, and as the third-longest tenured announcer in the Grand Ole Opry’s history. The experiences and friendships have allowed me to live a lot of dreams. Needless to say, I will be forever grateful.”
Grant Turner served for 47 years, and Hairl Hensley served for 35 years as Opry announcers. However, starting his tenure at WSM on July 8, 1996, it makes Eddie Stubbs the longest-serving evening DJ in the legendary radio station’s 95 year history.
A fiddle player as well, Eddie Stubbs moved to Nashville on March 21, 1995 to perform with The Queen of Country Kitty Wells and her husband Johnnie Wright. After only a week of being in town, Stubbs was hired on part-time at WSM, and 17 days later he was auditioning to be the Grand Ole Opry announcer.
“Eddie has been a great friend to the Opry, to the Opry’s artists, and to listeners around the world,” says Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “I have no doubt that students of the Opry and of country music will for years turn to his recorded conversations with legends including Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart and so many more to learn about their careers and the era in which Eddie has made such an impact at the Opry and on WSM.”
Eddie Stubbs will officially sign off on July 29th from his WSM post. For the interim, Jeff Hoag will be filling in during Eddie’s time slot. WSM also plans to tribute Stubbs with programming leading up to his departure.
The 58-year-old Stubbs is originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland, and regularly played bluegrass, including in The Johnson Mountain Boys. Throughout the 80’s he also worked as a DJ at WYII in Maryland, and eventually at the prestigious WAMU bluegrass station in Washington D.C.
Beyond The Opry and WSM, Eddie Stubbs also appeared as the on-camera announcer for the six seasons of The Marty Stuart Show on RFD-TV, where many put the face to the name and voice, and became fans. Stubbs also has served on the boards of the Country Music Association, The International Bluegrass Music Association, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He’s also a CMA winner, earning the Large Market Air Personality of the Year award in 2002, and is a Country Music Radio Hall of Famer.
But beyond his professional duties, Eddie Stubbs is considered the congenial face and voice of country music for many. A virtual encyclopedia of country music knowledge, full of stories from his tenure at the Opry and WSM, he is an irreplaceable institution of a personality leaving at a time when the voices, characters, and timbre of American country music is changing, and not always for the better.
Though there is no stated reason for Eddie’s retirement at the moment, he has been missing some shifts at WSM lately, leading to some to speculate he might be dealing with health issues. Other have wondered with The Opry’s television-based Circle Network launching this year with Bobby Bones as the primary face if Eddie felt like it was time to move on.
No matter the reason, the hole Eddie Stubbs leaves will not be filled easily, no different than the legends of the stage that Stubbs introduced for a quarter century.
July 22, 2020 @ 6:44 pm
Say it isn’t so! Stubbs is a tremendous repository of knowledge about AUTHENTIC country music! He did a wonderful job eulogizing Ray Price at Price’s memorial service in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, in 2013! One doesn’t know anything about country music unless and until one knows its history and roots, which is what I, for one, have studied for years. I am hard-pressed to think of anyone of Stubbs’ stature who will be able to impart that sorely-needed knowledge to the the up-and-coming wannabees.
July 22, 2020 @ 7:00 pm
This is a huge, HUGE loss. Eddie Stubbs is irreplaceble. End of discussion.
July 22, 2020 @ 7:09 pm
The sheer knowledge and appreciation for every little detail of the music and person is what is so remarkable. On the air and also on occasion on Facebook he would make the most remarkable post on a song/artist/musician that 99.9% of The population didn’t even know.
He says he was brought to Nashville by wsm to pre-write eulogies for some of the aging country stars. Then they could easily fill out the details later.
I hope he writes some books with his time off. He was the only remaining live DJ in his time slot on any station in Nashville.
July 25, 2020 @ 8:23 am
1995,Eddie was hired to play Fiddle by husband/wife-Johnny Wright & Kitty Wells, and they talked him in to moving to Nashville,to get a change. He was going thru a Divorce. The 2nd day he was in Nashville,WSM hired him. He created the Morgue Files on elderly living Singers like Bill Monroe,Hank Snow,etc.,so when they died, WSM had a tribute ready. He started filling in on evenings, and on a whim,they told him without any preparation to MC the Opry. Eddie always called the whole story,Divine Intervention. You know the rest of the Story.
July 25, 2020 @ 6:03 pm
Eddie Stubbs was brought to Nashville by Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright to play fiddle.17 days later he was hired by WSM. He started to do Morgue Files,then weekend slots,then the Opry,then his own Show.
July 22, 2020 @ 7:35 pm
Listening to WSM on the way home tonight, Eddie stated there were several things he and his wife wanted to do while they still had the health to do do and pursue other things both were looking forward to.
I will take whay he said for face value, but I bet there are Bones in the woodpile. Losing Eddie and gaining butthole Bobbie makes me wanna puke.
July 23, 2020 @ 8:01 am
A lot of people are making this about Bobby Bones vs. Eddie Stubbs. Bobby Bones already has a massive syndicated “country” music morning radio show. It’s the biggest show on country radio. He’s not about to take a position working nights on a local AM station that struggles to stay in the Top 20 in the market. I guess there is the possibility that Bobby Bones could replace Stubbs at the Opry podium once the presentation returns to normal. But something tells me that would be too small potatoes for Bones. Let’s not worry about that scenario until it presents itself.
Could the presence of Bobby Bones and others be inadvertently edging the oldtimers out like Eddie Stubbs? You bet it could. Perhaps if he was made the face of the Circle Network and the weekly Opry streams, Stubbs would have stuck around. But let’s not assume this is all about Bobby Bones. That might be giving him too much credit.
July 23, 2020 @ 8:30 am
Agreed. I think the most important thing is recognizing Eddie’s great contributions.
July 22, 2020 @ 7:39 pm
It’s like losing an encyclopedia and replacing it with a comic book.
February 12, 2024 @ 3:40 pm
Totally agree with that.
I have wondered if Eddie…being a traditionalist…felt that Country Music was in a downward spiral and just didn’t want to be forced to embrace the crap that is now considered Country Music.
I have spent years listening to Eddie do interviews and impart knowledge on the songs he would spin on the radio.
I have the highest respect for this man with his wealth of knowledge of Country Music. May God Bless him and his wife in whatever they choose to do in retirement.
July 22, 2020 @ 8:05 pm
Brad Paisely would be a great replacement
July 22, 2020 @ 8:25 pm
Marty Stuart would be far better.
July 22, 2020 @ 10:13 pm
Not to be too nitpicky, but posting this as a reply to the article instead of to Hey Arnold’s comment changes the meaning! It seems like you are suggesting that Marty Stuart would be far better than Eddie Stubbs, instead of being far better than Brad Paisley 😉
July 22, 2020 @ 10:21 pm
You’re getting warmer, but I don’t think it should be a primary artist who takes over for Eddie. Marty Stuart needs to be Marty Stuart. One quality candidate in my opinion would be Chris Scruggs.
July 23, 2020 @ 5:55 am
Why not just let Jeff Hoag have it? He’s the next best thing to Eddie.
July 23, 2020 @ 6:37 am
Trigger,
I do agree with your assessment. Yes, Marty should be Marty and he needs to be out there. Chris would be an interesting replacement for sure.
Eric,
Good point. I did mean that Marty would be better than Brad.
July 22, 2020 @ 9:05 pm
Amen, I second the Marty Stuart endorsement. IMHO the only one who could hope to fill Eddies shoes.
July 23, 2020 @ 3:51 am
I wonder if the Marty Stuart Congress of Country Music will benefit from this? Maybe Marty will tap him to do some appearances, or contribute to some displays, or something?
He could be the voice of the self-guided tour, for instance.
July 23, 2020 @ 5:15 am
For the love of everything that’s holy, for the love of God Opry, please don’t replace him with Bones.
July 23, 2020 @ 6:40 am
Several years ago Marty Stuart did a live recording of his show at the Ellis Theater in Philadelphia, MS, and I managed to wrangle a ticket after the show had done sold out. The whole cast was there, including Eddie. Anyway, after the show everybody hung around to talk with the crowd; I had a chance to talk to Leroy Troy outside for a little, and I turn around and there stands Eddie Stubbs. I count it a blessing that I was able to talk country music history with him for a few minutes, and mention that he’d caused me to miss a turn before while driving late at night because I was enjoying his show so much and not paying as close attention to the road as I should have been.
Like somebody else said, hopefully he’ll write a book, and having his voice as the narrator for a self-guided tour of Marty’s Congress of Country Music Hall would be fantastic.
July 23, 2020 @ 6:50 am
For me, this is the saddest news all year. I always found solace in Eddie. It was like, “Okay, that sucks, but at least Eddie’s on tonight.”
Trigger,
When you were inquiring as to the reason, was it apparent to you that the reason was being intentionally hidden?
July 23, 2020 @ 8:10 am
I didn’t find out much, and I don’t have a direct line to Eddie. But some of the people I talked to pointed out that he has been missing quite a few shifts lately, and though there may not be any specific health issue, maybe he’s been having some minor health issues that have made him prioritize things in life. On Wednesday night’s show, he said he wanted to do some things why he still had his heath, so that sort of falls in line with what I’d heard. I don’t want to spread rumors that Eddie is ill or has some major health issue. I don’t know that at all. But it does seem to me like he does want to take a step back to better live life while there is life to live.
Also since WSM has been doing all kinds of weird things lately (remember the failed sports show?) you have to wonder if he’s being edged out. But I’m not hearing anything along those lines. Maybe that’s happening, but I don’t have any info on that. My guess at the worst Eddie might be reading the writing on the wall, and wants to exit on my own terms. But again, I don’t have any reason to believe he’s being forced to leave.
Hopefully we have a better explanation in the future.
July 23, 2020 @ 9:34 am
I can’t help but wonder if all the forced time off from the first lockdowns, combined with the new marriage, caused Eddie to reflect on life a bit. It’s not too far-fetched to think we may be approaching the end of the West, in which case, one might want to quit their job and focus on living, until Orwell becomes real. I’ve contemplated it myself. Unfortunately, I don’t have the accumulated wealth that I assume Eddie has.
When a C(c)ountry singer dies, it sucks, but they usually die in old age, long after their best days are behind them. Plus, we’ll always have their great recordings to listen to.
But radio needs to be live to be fully enjoyed, which is why Eddie’s retirement almost feels like he’s died.
July 23, 2020 @ 9:55 am
They have been doing sketchy things at WSM imo. Marcia Campbell had a PHENOMENAL over-night radio show called The All Nighter. It was hugely popular with truckers nationwide. You could call in live or email requests for her to play ANY country song, and i mean ANY, no matter how obscure.Deep album cuts, no big deal. She would work to find it and she just had a way with her audience that sucked you in. And then, this last winter, they pulled the plug on her show with zero acknowledgement from the station. No explanation, no message to all the fans, nothing. Immediately, it was like she never existed. And she was replaced by auto programming. A computer replaced her. I would love to know how the ratings are in that time slot now!
July 29, 2020 @ 6:28 pm
I am wondering the same thing. Marcia did a great job. I rarely stayed up listen to her, but would catch the start of her program at midnight when Eddie’s show ended. Then I recently listened and no Marcia. Just canned music. I wonder if that is what we will be hearing beginning the night after Eddie’s departure. No one, not even Eddie, is saying who, or what, will be replacing him. Time will tell.
July 23, 2020 @ 10:25 am
I do believe Eddie was recently married in August/September of 2019.
Also, the live shows where Eddie and Marty Stuart are together are GOLDEN.
July 23, 2020 @ 7:07 am
Congratulations on a job well done, Eddie. You weren’t just the voice of the Opry, you are an elder statesman of the genre.
Please, please, please, WSM…for the love of heaven, please don’t replace Eddie Stubbs with Bobby Bones.
He’s nearly insufferable as an Opry Live host on the Circle and has been responsible for promoting and fostering some of the most atrocious bro/pop/boyfriend country material known to man on his radio show. Appointing him to replace a legend like Stubbs would be a regression for the institution and a major setback for country music as a whole, especially at a time when we’re slowly starting to see traditionalism creep back into the mainstream.
July 23, 2020 @ 7:29 am
Legend
July 23, 2020 @ 7:46 am
Bones has made a mockery of the Opry.
He is 100 % disrespectful & reckless.
(Just because you’re seeing 100% Bobby, don’t confuse it as being a compliment.)
Can not blame Mr. Stubbs for leaving.
We all reach a point where we are going to put up with something, or not, and then make decision(s) to keep going, or cut bait.
All the best Mr. Stubbs.
Thank you for the Wonderful gentleman that you are!
You will be missed
July 23, 2020 @ 8:47 am
WHO is this Bobby Bones of whom you speak?
July 23, 2020 @ 11:00 am
Hard to believe he’s retiring. He’s only 58. Sure will miss him. But if anyone could take over his show it is Jeff Hogue. He is good. Hope hey give him a chance.
July 25, 2020 @ 5:52 am
I hope they keep Jeff,too.
July 23, 2020 @ 1:46 pm
Good-natured, genuinely humble, and expert. I listened to his show for years on WAMU in Washington, DC. Thank you for all of those wonderful hours.
July 25, 2020 @ 5:51 am
I take Eddie for what he has said,that he wants to go on and Retire and Travel with his Bride of almost 1 year(August 4). Since him and his Wife got engaged,Eddie was taking off more and more,to do things with her. The Virus hit, and then we rarely heard from him. I’ve been a Fan of his since he started. I would call i-n around 1996, then email requests later years. He has been an important mainstay in my life. I had him read my email off the Air,about my encounter with Charlie Louvin,when he did his passing tribute.I got to meet him,and be in 2 tapings of the RFD Marty Stuart Show audience in 2011. I appreciate him,Love him. Gonna miss him. Like a Death in the Family. But on the other hand,I respect his goals. I like Jeff Hoag, but I’ll probably go to bed earlier now that Eddie’s not behind the WSM Mic. The End of an Era.Is there any Questions ?
July 25, 2020 @ 9:10 am
I didn’t have Eddie read my email about Charlie Louvin,he done it on his own.
July 25, 2020 @ 1:02 pm
My only real exposure with him is because of the Marty Stuart show, which was awesome, and I felt like his presence really helped to give that show it’s flavor. I hope all is well with him!
July 26, 2020 @ 12:05 pm
A classic voice matched with unmatched knowledge and passion. Really sad to see him go.
July 27, 2020 @ 10:28 pm
Got introduced to country music April 25, 1954 while stationed at the navy base in Bainbridge Maryland. One of the guys said that a group called Flatt and Scrugs were playing out in Rising Sun Maryland. Went down this country road and there in a pasture setting with hay wagons and fold up chairs was Mr. Flat and Mr. Scruggs. Talk about country, some old man got up on the wagon and did a little jig, then a very pretty girl in a country dress got up and sang and then came the great Flatt and Scruggs. Got back home in 56 and became hooked on WSM. In 1970 we took our Mt. Pulaski High School band to NASHVILLE to see the oprey. The late and great Marty Robbins was the headliner and after the show by chance he was staying at the Motel where our band was staying. He played for the kids until 2am. Never missed a night after that on wsm. Eddie I will miss you expessialy your song of inspiration at sign off time. God Bless you Mr. Eddie
July 28, 2020 @ 8:31 pm
I live in Wisconsin. I downloaded the WSM app and was really enjoying Eddie Stubbs and he announced he is retiring. Sounds like a true pro, I wish I would have found him earlier. I love old country, I despise Bro country. I hope WSM keeps playing old country, with a knowledgeable DJ.
July 29, 2020 @ 9:00 pm
WSM is in a general shift and decline in my opinion. The morning show has decreased the music and upped the mindless chatter.. I quit listening last year. On Sunday mornings they used to have a three hour country gospel show. Now that’s cut back to one hour with the other two hours filled with two pre-recorded canned top 40, much of it pseudo-country. They cut back other local informational and interview shows also. The overnight DJ, Marcia Campbell is also gone in favor of a canned format.
July 30, 2020 @ 5:33 pm
I agree with you Steelpeder. I really enjoyed the three hour Sunday Down South program and can’t understand why it was cancelled. I still listen to the one hour program hosted by Jeff who does a great job but wish they would extended it back to three hours. I also used to catch some of Marcia Campbell’s show on my long drive to work and feel she and us listeners were treated poorly by the station. The loss of Eddie for whatever reason is just another nail in the coffin of what was (and could still be) the greatest radio station in history.
July 30, 2020 @ 5:52 pm
A book would be awesome by this man!
August 11, 2020 @ 1:03 pm
WSM has been a sinking ship since Joe Limardi left. I love Bill and Charlie as people and radio talent, same goes for Mike Terry, but their hands are apparently tied to their program director. It’s a real joke, as they could have took the opportunity that the Country Music documentary peaked interest in real country music and The Opry/650 itself. What shock for a new listener to tune in just to hear bro country and snap tracks all over the historic station. I say FM died in Nashville when Gerry House retired, so now with Eddie’s departure it’s the final nail in the coffin for WSM… I hope I’m wrong!
August 24, 2020 @ 10:20 pm
Jeff Hogue now has been selected as Eddie’s permanent replacement.
A Facebook fan club has been established and is flourishing for Jeff: “Jeff Hogue Fan Club”.
Join it today!