Bill Cody obit

Longtime Grand Ole Opry announcer Bill Cody has died

 

He was not on the list.

For more than three decades, Bill Cody helped bring country music into the homes, cars and workplaces of millions of listeners.

The longtime WSM radio personality and Grand Ole Opry announcer died Tuesday in Nashville at age 67, according to an Instagram post from WSM Radio.

Cody had been a fixture on Nashville's legendary WSM-AM since 1994, hosting the popular morning show Coffee, Country & Cody while also serving as one of the most recognizable voices associated with the Grand Ole Opry.

No official cause of death has been released, but in recent weeks, many members of the country music community had shared requests for prayers after Cody's daughter revealed that he was in critical condition and in need of heart and kidney transplants.

Tributes from across the country music world quickly poured in in the comments on the social media posts announcing Cody's death.

"There might be someone somewhere in the world who loved country music as much, but nobody loved country music more than Bill Cody," wrote Garth Brooks.

Dierks Bentley wrote, "Country music has lost one of its pillars. Bill was just as important to the fabric of our music and city as any artist, songwriter or musician. No one loved country music, its history and its characters more than Bill Cody."

"Bill Cody was one of those rare people who didn't just work in Country Music—he lived it, protected it, and loved it with every fiber of his being," wrote Ty Herndon. "For decades, Bill was a trusted voice, a champion of artists, a keeper of our stories, and a bridge between generations of country music fans. Whether you were a superstar or a struggling songwriter with a dream, Bill made you feel like you mattered. I was fortunate to call him a friend. His kindness was genuine, his passion was contagious, and his belief in this music never wavered. He understood that country music is more than songs and charts—it's people, community, and heart."

According to Variety, Cody began his broadcasting career at age 17 after answering a help-wanted ad at a Kentucky radio station. Born Trent Clutts, he adopted the on-air name Bill Cody in honor of childhood hero Buffalo Bill Cody.

Over the course of his career, he became one of country radio's most respected personalities. He was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2008 and received a star on Nashville's Music City Walk of Fame in 2024. He is also set to be inducted posthumously into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame later this year.

Saturday night's live broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry will be dedicated to Cody's memory, while WSM plans to air a special marathon featuring memorable moments from Coffee, Country & Cody.