Story perspectives

WSM Host Bill Cody Dies at 67

6/10/2026

Summary

Bill Cody Dies

United States – Bill Cody, WSM host and Opry announcer, died June 9, 2026, age 67, after kidney and heart failure left him hospitalized; his daughter said he needed transplants in late May.
He began broadcasting at 17 after a WVLK ad, adopting the on-air name Bill Cody.
Cody joined WSM on April 25, 1994, launching “Coffee, Country & Cody”; Charlie Daniels was his first guest.
He entered the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame and earned a Walk of Fame star (2024).
Garth Brooks, Dierks Bentley and Carly Pearce called him a country-music pillar; Opry will be dedicated to him.

Summary

Bill Cody Tribute

His daughter Hannah urged fans to pray on May 31, warning ECMO could cause stroke, clots or infection.
WSM Radio will air a marathon of Coffee, Country & Cody moments in the days following his death.
His voice was heard on United Airlines in-flight programming, including on Air Force One and Air Force Two.
Cody married his high-school sweetheart Rebecca; they raised three children and lived near Cross Plains, Tennessee.
He began broadcasting with his father at a small Kentucky radio station before moving to Nashville.

History

Historical Context

WSM began broadcasting on October 5 1925, its 50,000-watt clear-channel signal powering the Barn Dance that became the Grand Ole Opry. Owned by National Life and Accident Insurance Company, the 878-foot diamond tower erected in 1932 on 650 kHz gave country artists nationwide exposure, a legacy that still launches new broadcasters and is celebrated in contemporary honors.

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Bill Cody Dies

United States – Bill Cody, WSM host and Opry announcer, died June 9, 2026, age 67, after kidney and heart failure left him hospitalized; his daughter said he needed transplants in late May.
He began broadcasting at 17 after a WVLK ad, adopting the on-air name Bill Cody.
Cody joined WSM on April 25, 1994, launching “Coffee, Country & Cody”; Charlie Daniels was his first guest.
He entered the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame and earned a Walk of Fame star (2024).
Garth Brooks, Dierks Bentley and Carly Pearce called him a country-music pillar; Opry will be dedicated to him.

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