BREAKING: WSM’s Bill Cody Passes

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Bill Cody. Photo: Grand Ole Opry, by Chris Hollo

WSM announcer Bill Cody passed away on June 9.

Cody’s distinctive voice has resonated across international airwaves for more than five decades. For over 30 years, he served as host of WSM Radio’s flagship morning program, Coffee, Country & Cody, and became especially renowned for his longtime role as announcer and host of the Grand Ole Opry.

Inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2008, Cody has earned multiple nominations from the CMA, ACM and Billboard. In 2024, he was honored with a star on the Music City Walk of Fame Park.

A native of Lebanon, Kentucky, Cody grew up as a preacher’s son and was introduced to radio at an early age. He often accompanied his father to the local radio station to exchange tapes of Sunday worship services for broadcast. Those visits provided an early look inside the world of radio and led to opportunities to spend time at the station, where he learned more about the day-to-day work of broadcasting.

In 1971, he began his professional radio career at WLBN in his hometown of Lebanon. Six years later, he joined WVLK in Lexington, Kentucky, as an on-air personality. After two years there, he moved to WHAS in Louisville, continuing to build his career in broadcasting.

In 1985, he returned to country radio as a morning personality at WCII in Louisville before relocating to Orlando, Florida, to work with WHOO-FM. Two years later, he joined KKYX-AM in San Antonio, Texas.

In 1994, Cody moved to Nashville to join WSM Radio, beginning a chapter that would define much of his distinguished career.

Beyond radio, Cody’s work has spanned television, syndication, voice-over and film. His credits include American Saturday Night: Live from the Grand Ole Opry, GAC-TV’s Master Series, the television specials Tennessee’s Wildside and Ray Stevens’ Nashville, and appearances on The Nashville Network. He has also been heard on Bill Cody’s Classic Country Weekend, Nashville Record Review, Country’s Most Wanted, programming for the Country Music Hall of Fame, Music City Walk of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Ryman Auditorium, as well as Willie’s Roadhouse on SiriusXM and United Airlines’ in-flight country music programming.

Cody married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca. The couple has three children and resided in Cross Plains, TN.

In the days ahead, WSM will honor Cody with a special marathon of moments from Coffee, Country & Cody. Services have yet to be announced.

Lauryn Sink
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