Voice of The Grand Ole Opry and Radio Hall of Famer Bill Cody Has Died
Arguably nobody had a more recognizable voice in country music over the last 30+ years who wasn’t a singer himself. He might have not penned the tunes that send shivers down our spine, or sing them with grand eloquence, or picked the guitar behind them. But Bill Cody was the person we would invite into our homes, our cars, our ears, and our hearts to deliver all those heartfelt songs from our favorite country stars. He was one of the voices of the Grand Ole Opry, and one of the voices of our lives.
Along with announcing countless shows for the Grand Ole Opry over the years, most people know Country Radio Hall of Famer Bill Cody through WSM 650‘s long-running flagship morning show Coffee, Country & Cody. For many, those three words of the title were essential for getting their mornings started off right for three decades. But this was just the centerpiece of his career. For some 54 years, Cody appeared all over radio and television, including, GAC TV’s Master Series, Tennessee’s Wildside on PBS, Ray Stevens’ Nashville on RFD-TV, Willie’s Roadhouse on Sirius-XM, and so many more.
Born in Lebanon, Kentucky on December 16, 1958, and growing up in towns like Gravel Switch, Crab Orchard, and Junction City, radio loomed large for Bill Cody because it gave him a window to the bigger world. His dad was a Baptist preacher, and would broadcast his sermons on the 1,00-watt station WLBN out of Lebanon every Sunday. That is where Bill Cody would officially start his broadcast career at the ripe age of 12.
Cody immediately became enamored with the radio format, and started sitting in with the country DJ, Frank Kemp. One day Kemp called in sick, so the 12-year-old Cody took the reigns, playing his first song, Wanda Jackson’s “I’ll Sing in the Sunshine” on an album at 45 rpm, so it sounded like the Chipmunks. He would get a better hang of the job as time went on.
When Cody turned 18 and could begin his career in earnest, he started working at WVLK in Lexington, Kentucky. Cody would continue to bounce around stations in Louisville, KY, to WHOO in Orlando, Florida, down to KKYX in San Antonio, and other locations until he finally made it to his dream job at the mother ship of country radio WSM-AM in 1994. He also appeared on WSM-FM from 1996-2000.
It wasn’t just the presence and voice of Bill Cody, but his personality, his musical knowledge, the way he could disarm performers when they came into the studio and make them feel like they were right at home that ultimately proved how irreplaceable Bill Cody really was. That is why long-time fans and listeners were so heartbroken to hear that he had been admitted to the ICU in May, and was suffering from heart and kidney failure. He was waiting for a heart and kidney transplant when he passed away on Tuesday, June 9th.
Bill Cody was also a champion of traditional country artists, up-and-comers, legends and independent performers who others in radio would sometimes ignore, but Bill would give them a voice on one of the most important radio stations in country music.
“Bill was incredibly kind to me and, truthfully, was one of the first people to believe in me in this town,” said independent artist Addison Johnson at the news of Bill’s passing. “It was always such a huge deal for me to be on the air with Bill, talking about an upcoming project. My dream was to have Bill Cody announce me at my Grand Ole Opry debut, and if I’m ever given the opportunity to step into the Circle, he will certainly be on my mind.”
Garth Brooks said, “There might be someone somewhere in the world who loved Country Music as much, but nobody loved Country Music more than Bill Cody.”
Bill Cody might have spinned them, announced them, and interviewed them as opposed to being one himself. But he was the facilitator, the fulcrum for so many country music doings, the de factor mayor of the country music airwaves. He was also officially a Country Radio Hall of Famer, a Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Famer, and an honoree of the Music City Walk of Fame.
Bill Cody leaves behind his high school sweetheart who he married, Rebecca, as well as three children. He also leaves behind dead air that will be difficult to impossible to properly fill.
He was 67 years old.
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June 9, 2026 @ 8:47 pm
A very nice tribute to an Iconic personality, who was loved by everyone who knew him. Thanks Trigger.
June 9, 2026 @ 11:34 pm
Wouldn’t he have been 71 (not 67) if he was born December 16, 1954?
June 9, 2026 @ 11:37 pm
Looks like he was born in 1968.
June 10, 2026 @ 12:50 am
Only to you.
June 10, 2026 @ 7:12 am
When researching for the obituary, the only birth date I could find for him was 1954. When the press release went out from the Opry/WSM, they said he was 67, but did not mention his birth date. I believe it was 1958, but I’m working to double verify that.
June 12, 2026 @ 1:38 am
RIP Bill and Condolences to his immediate family on their heartbreaking 💔 loss. Lord Jesus will get them through it.
June 12, 2026 @ 5:17 pm
He was born in 1958 not 1954
June 10, 2026 @ 4:36 am
I listened to Coffee, Country & Codyv evert morning for years. My condolences to his family
A sad time for all
June 10, 2026 @ 4:47 am
Great tribute to an exceptional radio personality.
A truly excellent country radio talent in the WSM tradition of superb announcers like Hairl Hensley, Ralph Emery, Kyle Cantrell and Eddie Stubbs. Great voice, a warm personality and a true love & knowledge of country music. And not just current/recent country music but the legendary stars of the past too. He was not like so many of the fawning poseurs that I see or hear doing interviews with country acts these days.
Very sad that his life & career was cut so short. Condolences to his family & friends.
June 10, 2026 @ 4:50 am
WOW! What a shock to me this morning when I opened Saving Country Music’s web page! Such a legend! He will certainly be missed by many. RIP Bill
June 10, 2026 @ 5:14 am
This one really hit me. This morning on 650 WSM they are playing clips of Coffee, Country and Cody and introducing them by saying Bill Cody was the voice that defined WSM. Thats a supreme compliment.
Some of my favorite Cody memories are listening to Wild Side Radio at 5:25 am on WSM during my daily drive to work. Bill Cody and Joey Monteleone would do a 10 minute show every morning on the great outdoors, more often than not fishing, sometimes hunting would discussed. Monteleone would talk about the joys of ” crank bait” vs ” buzz bait” or talk about how to walk around a pond and find where the fish are hiding. Once a week they featured ” campfire stories” and Bill and Joey would laugh and chat about just about anything on their mind with a tie in to the outdoors. Clearly Bill Cody loved all of it and sometimes he couldn’t get hardly a word in with Monteleone talking a mile a minute. Charlie Mattos was a part of it as well. The show had a good run from 2012 to maybe 2024. Still remember driving to work everyday during pandemic and hardly anybody was on the road but me it seemed, i referred to it as the zombie apocalypse highway, and a constant for me was everyday id hear that show come on and Bill Cody’s voice and laughter would for a bit be the voice of calm and normalcy for me , in a world that couldn’t be crazier.
I miss that guy a lot. Bill Cody you were one in a million.
June 10, 2026 @ 5:47 am
Born Trent Clutts in December 1958, he later adopted the on-air name “Bill Cody” while working in Lexington, inspired by his childhood hero, the Wild West entertainer Buffalo Bill Cody.
June 10, 2026 @ 6:38 am
I read on Rolling Stone that he was born in 1958 which would make him 67 at his death. A few articles had him as 67 and born in 1954 which would make him 71. RIP
June 10, 2026 @ 7:41 am
RIP He was one of the good ones.
June 10, 2026 @ 4:04 pm
I was really confused by his continued absence on his namesake morning show, but now knowing what he was going through health-wise, it makes sense. He seemed like one of the good ones, and I will be praying for his family, friends, and listeners.
June 10, 2026 @ 4:29 pm
Bill we will miss you my high school friend, just thinking about how much fun we had together in high school. at MCHS the many ball game, and Friday and Saturday night Cruise in the streets of Lebanon we had some fun. You my friend changed lives. You are going to be missed my friend. The songs we came up with like Hi darling, and No place like Party town. Now you’re with the big guy upstairs, at the big Grand ole Opry on the big stage with so many of the great musicians that are there. Love you Friend RIP!!!
June 10, 2026 @ 7:17 pm
Saw Addison open for Sunny Sweeney this past Sunday night. Genuine good guy. Had a conversation with him afterwards and reading his quote above I know how he would have loved to be on with Cody when his new album comes out in a few weeks. Sad loss for the country music family. Condolences to Cody’s family.
June 11, 2026 @ 5:55 am
I enjoyed watching Bills’ show on Circle TV a few years ago. Really enjoyed his show, and had no idea that he was from Kentucky, where I live. He seemed like a class act, very well liked and respected by the artists who appeared on the show. RIP, prayers for your remaining loved ones and family.🙏❤️
June 11, 2026 @ 12:30 pm
Great career and life synopsis. Over the course of my career here in Nashville I’ve been incredibly blessed to work for and with some of the greatest people in country music. Bill Cody was one of those special people. He had an incredible mind and base of knowledge, along with being one of the most memorable voices of country music’s story book. The stories he’s been able to tell and sometimes pull out of artists through his career at WSM is part of the history books now. To say he leaves behind a huge legacy would be an understatement. RIP Mr. Cody and thank you for all the memories you helped create for this fellow Kentucky boy.
June 12, 2026 @ 11:51 am
WOW! What a shock it was to wake up this morning and learn of the passing of Bill Cody from WSM Radio in Nashville.
For many years, Bill was a familiar and trusted voice through Coffee, Country & Cody on WSM Radio Nashville, bringing country music, great interviews and genuine warmth to listeners around the world. Whether he was chatting with country music legends or introducing a new artist, he had a style that made everyone feel welcome.
I have been listening to Bill for a long time and, like so many others, felt as though I knew him personally. His passion for country music, his professionalism and his unmistakable voice made him one of the true greats of country radio.
Bill Cody was more than just a broadcaster. He was an ambassador for country music and a friend to countless listeners who started their day with his program.
He leaves behind a remarkable legacy and will be deeply missed by the country music community and by listeners everywhere.
Rest in peace, Bill. Thank you for the memories and the music over so many years. You will never be forgotten.
Paul Makin
Port Douglas
Australia
June 13, 2026 @ 3:01 pm
This was very sad news to hear. As well as the substance of what Bill had to say, I loved the timbre of his voice and the relaxed swagger of his delivery. You don’t hear many of those voices on radio anymore. I only got to meet him once but found him to be very kind and humble, which then made me like him even more.
June 14, 2026 @ 5:07 am
He was had such friendly, good natured presence on the radio. I don’t know that anybody did it better than him.
June 14, 2026 @ 8:18 am
Bill Cody was one of the few radio hosts with some level of endurement. Nashville will miss him, People involved in the Country Music world who worked directly to him will miss him.