Bill Cody, Voice of the Grand Ole Opry, Dead at 67
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- Bill Cody died Tuesday at age 67 after a lengthy battle with kidney and heart failure.
- Bill Cody joined WSM in 1994, after beginning his radio career at age 12 in 1971.
- Bill Cody hosted the “Coffee, Country & Cody” morning show for over three decades and regularly announced Grand Ole Opry broadcasts.
- Bill Cody was inducted into the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame in 2008.
- Bill Cody was born Trent Clutts and adopted his on‑air name after his childhood hero Buffalo Bill Cody.
- Bill Cody married his high‑school sweetheart Rebecca in 1980 after meeting at a Waylon Jennings‑Jessie Colter concert.
- Bill Cody’s daughter Hannah announced his illness on May 31, prompting an outpouring of support from fans and country artists.
Why it matters: Country fans and artists lose a trusted voice who for three decades linked listeners to the Grand Ole Opry, while WSM loses a staple personality whose daily presence shaped Nashville’s radio identity; his death also ends a career that began at age 12, underscoring the loss of a multi‑generational bridge between country legends and emerging talent.
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