Bill Cody, Legendary WSM Radio Host and Grand Ole Opry Announcer, Dies at 67
Bill Cody, a beloved country radio personality who spent more than three decades as a morning show host on WSM-AM Nashville and a regular Grand Ole Opry announcer, died Tuesday after a lengthy battle with kidney and heart failure. Cody, born Trent Clutts in 1958, joined WSM in 1994 and was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2008, earning widespread admiration for his warmth and deep knowledge of country music. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from major country artists and industry figures, and Saturday night's Grand Ole Opry broadcast will be dedicated to his memory.
Bill Cody, whose real name was Trent Clutts, died Tuesday in Nashville at age 67 following a prolonged battle with kidney and heart failure; his daughter Hannah had first publicly disclosed his critical condition on May 31st, prompting widespread calls for prayer across the country music community. Born in Huntsville, Alabama, and raised in Lebanon, Kentucky, Cody developed his passion for radio as a child through visits to the station that broadcast his father's Sunday sermons. He began his on-air career at age 12 and later adopted the name Bill Cody in honor of his childhood hero, Buffalo Bill. After working at various stations across Kentucky and Texas, he joined WSM-AM in 1994, where he hosted the long-running morning program 'Coffee, Country & Cody' and served as a regular announcer for the Grand Ole Opry's live broadcasts. His career honors included a 2008 induction into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame, a star on the Music City Walk of Fame in 2024, and a forthcoming posthumous induction into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. Tributes poured in from artists including Garth Brooks, Dierks Bentley, and Carly Pearce, as well as Opry Entertainment CEO Patrick Moore. WSM announced plans to air a special marathon of highlights from his morning show, and Saturday night's Opry broadcast will be dedicated to him.
What different sources said
- Rolling StoneLeft
Bill Cody, Voice of the Grand Ole Opry, Dead at 67
- VarietyCenter
Bill Cody, Grand Ole Opry Announcer and Revered WSM Country Radio Personality, Dies at 67
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