Grand Ole Opry, WSM Radio Mainstay Bill Cody Dead at 67

Bill Cody, one of country music's most beloved radio voices and a longtime fixture at WSM and the Grand Ole Opry, has died at the age of 67.

News of Cody's death was announced Tuesday (June 9), just weeks after family members revealed he was in critical condition and in need of heart and kidney transplants.

In a social media message, Cody's son, David, thanked fans for their support during his father's final days.

“We will never be able to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and the sincere prayers over the last few weeks,” he wrote. “We know God heard them, and we feel a deep peace that one day we will understand why God chose to still take him.”

A Voice Country Fans Knew for Decades

Cody spent more than 30 years at WSM-AM, joining the legendary Nashville station in 1994.

He became the longtime host of Coffee, Country & Cody, one of country music's most influential radio shows, where countless artists stopped by over the years.

Read More: 13 Secret Brett James Songs You’ve Known + Loved for Years

His impact stretched far beyond radio.

Cody was also a familiar face and voice at the Grand Ole Opry, regularly serving as host of Opry performances and Opry Country Classics.

According to WSM, his first in-studio guest after joining the station was Charlie Daniels.

Over the years, Cody built what many considered a daily gathering place for country music fans.

Read More: Jerry Kennedy, Guitarist For Tammy Wynette and Roy Orbison, Dead at 85

“Bill welcomed listeners each morning on Coffee, Country & Cody with a broad smile, a conversational ease, and an unerring ability to make both artists and audiences feel at home,” the station said in a statement.

A Lasting Legacy

Cody's broadcasting career earned him some of the industry's highest honors.

He was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2008 and received a star on the Music City Walk of Fame in 2024.

Later this year, he will be inducted posthumously into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.

The Grand Ole Opry announced that Saturday night's broadcast will be dedicated to Cody's memory.

Meanwhile, WSM plans to honor him with a special marathon of memorable moments from Coffee, Country & Cody.

WSM called Cody “a trusted voice, a generous friend, and a constant companion to generations of listeners.”