One day after the death of beloved country radio personality and Grand Ole Opry announcer Bill Cody, country superstar Trisha Yearwood took a moment to honor his memory from the Opry stage.
During Wednesday night’s Grand Ole Opry broadcast, Yearwood paid tribute to Cody, who died June 9 at age 67 after a recent health battle.
“I want to take one second before we move on and I’ve heard some people have mentioned our dear friend Bill Cody,” sayd Yearwood. “You heard his voice on the loudspeaker when you came in tonight. He was a dear friend to all of us and I think we’re all playing this show for Don Williams and also for Bill Cody. So I just wanted to send my love out with everybody else to his family”
Tonight, June 10, was the planned Opry tribute Opry 100 Honors: Don Williams, the late country legend known as the “Gentle Giant.” Yearwood, Keith Urban and Rodney Crowell were on hand to celebrate Williams and now also Bill Cody, who just died yesterday.
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Cody spent decades as a fixture of Nashville’s country music community. He joined WSM-AM in 1994 and became one of the most recognizable voices associated with both the station and the Grand Ole Opry. Through his long-running radio program Coffee, Country & Cody, he interviewed countless country stars and helped introduce listeners to generations of artists.
Following news of his death Tuesday, tributes poured in from across the country music world.
“There might be someone somewhere in the world who loved country music as much, but nobody loved country music more than Bill Cody,” Garth Brooks said in a statement.
Dierks Bentley called Cody “one of [country music’s] pillars,” adding that he was “just as important to the fabric of our music and city as any artist, songwriter or musician.”
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Earlier this week, Cody’s family revealed that he had been in critical condition and in need of heart and kidney transplants. No official cause of death has been announced.
Saturday night’s Grand Ole Opry broadcast is also expected to include a special tribute to Cody, whose voice and presence became synonymous with country music for generations of fans.
Related: Country Music Legend and Radio DJ Dies at 88
This story was originally published by Parade on Jun 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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