Eddie Stubbs Announces Retirement

Eddie Stubbs. Photo: Grand Ole Opry/WSM

Longtime WSM Radio on-air personality, Grand Ole Opry announcer and music scholar Eddie Stubbs announced his retirement on Tuesday evening (July 21). He will officially sign off on July 29. WSM will soon announce plans for its 7 p.m.-midnight shift; in the interim, Jeff Hoag will serve as host.

WSM Radio posted the following on their Facebook page: “This evening Eddie Stubbs announced his retirement from WSM Radio and the Grand Ole Opry. Eddie has been a part of our airwaves for more than 25 years, and we’re so grateful for his knowledge, wisdom and passion for country music. Stay tuned this week and next as WSM celebrates Eddie Stubbs. We’ll revisit some of his famed interviews from our archives, and so much more! Thank you Eddie, for keeping the light on for Nashville radio!!”

On July 8, 1996, Stubbs began hosting the evening shift on WSM and now holds the distinction of being the longest-serving broadcaster in the 7 p.m. to midnight slot in WSM’s 95 years of operation. With a different theme each night, ‘Hall Of Fame Monday,’ ‘Two For Tuesday,’ Way Back Wednesday,’ ‘Classic Opry Thursday’ and ‘WSM By Request’ on Fridays, Stubbs’ unique insight into the stories and the people behind the music always gave listeners a reason to tune in.

Stubbs said, “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.”

WSM Director of Content and Programming J. Patrick Tinnell said, “Eddie’s talent, service and dedication are the stuff of legends and are forever part of WSM and Grand Ole Opry history.”

Stubbs came to Nashville on March 21, 1995 to play fiddle with the Queen of Country Music Kitty Wells and her husband Johnnie Wright. A week later he was hired part-time at WSM. Just seventeen days after his arrival in Music City, Eddie auditioned for the announcer’s position on the Grand Ole Opry show.

Dan Rogers, Grand Ole Opry Vice President and Executive Producer, said, “Eddie has been a great friend to the Opry, to the Opry’s artists, and to listeners around the world. 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.”

In addition to his roles at WSM and Opry, Stubbs served six seasons as the on-camera announcer for The Marty Stuart Show on RFD-TV. He has served on committees with the Country Music Association, the International Bluegrass Music Association, as well as The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

Stubbs earned the Country Music Association’s Large Market Broadcast Personality of the Year award in 2002. In 2012, he received country radio’s highest honor by becoming one of the youngest living inductees into the Country Radio Hall of Fame.