Nashville Radio: Eddie Stubbs Retires From WSM-AM, Opry

Eddie Stubbs

After 25 years as the announcer for the "Grand Ole Opry," Eddie Stubbs just made another big announcement: he's retiring.

The Tennessean reports Stubbs broke the news Tuesday night on Nashville's famed radio station WSM 650 AM, where he's made weeknight broadcasts since 1996. His last day with WSM — which also broadcasts the Opry — is July 29.

"We’re grateful for the knowledge, wisdom, and passion he has shared with fans of country music near and far," WSM said on its social media channels.

Stubbs, 58, became the "Opry" announcer in 1995 — amazingly, just three months after he moved to Nashville to play fiddle for Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright.

Along with his unmistakable voice, he's been celebrated for his encyclopedic knowledge of country music, and appeared in Ken Burns' 2019 docuseries covering the genre,

His stint at the "Opry" is the third longest in the radio show's 84-year history. WSM says it will be celebrating his career for the next two weeks, playing archived interviews and past studio visits from country stars.

Dan Rogers, Grand Ole Opry Vice President and Executive Producer, said, “Eddie has been a great friend to the Opry, to the Opry’s artists, and to listeners around the world. I have no doubt that students of the Opry and of country music will for years turn to his recorded conversations with legends including Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart and so many more to learn about their careers and the era in which Eddie has made such an impact at the Opry and on WSM.”

In addition to his roles at WSM and Opry, Stubbs served six seasons as the on-camera announcer for The Marty Stuart Show on RFD-TV. He has served on committees with the Country Music Association, the International Bluegrass Music Association, as well as The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

Stubbs earned the Country Music Association’s Large Market Broadcast Personality of the Year award in 2002. In 2012, he received country radio’s highest honor by becoming one of the youngest living inductees into the Country Radio Hall of Fame.

 WSM will soon announce plans for its 7 p.m.-midnight shift; in the interim