R.I.P.: Bill Cody, WSM Morning Host

Bill Cody, the beloved Grand Ole Opry announcer and longtime WSM Radio host, died Tuesday at age 67 after battling kidney and heart failure.

WSM Radio confirmed the news Tuesday evening in a heartfelt tribute posted to Instagram.“A singular presence on WSM-AM Nashville for more than three decades, 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 wrote. 

Cody was a native of Lebanon, Kentucky, and the son of a preacher who first discovered radio as a boy. Cody often accompanied his father to the local station to drop off tapes of Sunday worship services. 
Those visits sparked his fascination with broadcasting and gave him early hands-on experience at the station.
He launched his professional radio career in 1971 at WLBN in his hometown of Lebanon. In 1977, he moved to WVLK in Lexington as an on-air personality, followed by a stint at WHAS in Louisville.Cody returned to country radio in 1985 as morning host at WCII in Louisville. He later worked at WHOO-FM in Orlando, Florida, and KKYX-AM in San Antonio, Texas, before joining WSM Radio in Nashville in 1994.
Beyond daily radio, Cody’s voice reached wide audiences through television, syndication, and voice-over work. His credits include American Saturday Night: Live from the Grand Ole Opry, GAC-TV’s Master Series, specials such as Tennessee’s Wildside and Ray Stevens’ Nashville, and programs for The Nashville Network. He also hosted Bill Cody’s Classic Country Weekend, contributed to Nashville Record Review and Country’s Most Wanted, and provided programming for the Country Music Hall of Fame, Music City Walk of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, Willie’s Roadhouse on SiriusXM, and United Airlines’ in-flight country music channel.

His voice became synonymous with the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts, and his work extended to television and syndicated radio, carrying country music far beyond Nashville. Inspired by early days at a small Kentucky radio station with his father, Cody turned a childhood dream into a lifelong broadcasting career in the city he always hoped to reach.

Cody was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame and received a star on the Music City Walk of Fame.  He is set to receive a posthumous induction into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.

More than his accolades, he will be remembered for his kindness, humility, and genuine ability to connect with people. WSM plans to honor him in the coming days with a special marathon of memorable moments from Coffee, Country & Cody.

ASCAP Sues Four Radio Groups for Copyright Infringement

ASCAP has filed federal copyright infringement lawsuits against four radio station groups operating a total of 15 stations, accusing them of repeatedly broadcasting music from ASCAP’s songwriters and publishers without a valid license for several years.

The Performing Rights Organization (PRO), which represents hundreds of thousands of songwriters, composers, and music publishers, said the stations continued to air protected works despite ongoing obligations under U.S. copyright law to secure public performance licenses. ASCAP licenses the public performance of its members’ music for radio, television, digital, and live venues.

According to the complaints, the radio groups allegedly failed to obtain or maintain necessary blanket licenses, resulting in unauthorized use of thousands of copyrighted songs. ASCAP is seeking damages, injunctions to stop further infringement, and recovery of legal fees.

Trump's MTP Interview A Ratings Win For NBC

NBC’s “Meet the Press” interview with President Donald Trump, which ended abruptly after a heated exchange, drew strong viewership for the Sunday morning news program.

The contentious interview, conducted Friday in Wisconsin and aired June 7, 2026, featured moderator Kristen Welker pressing Trump on election fraud claims, California primaries, the Iran conflict, and his proposed “anti-weaponization” fund. Trump walked out after accusing the media of bias, calling networks “crooked,” and stating he had “had enough.”

Meet the Press was #1 in total viewers and #1 in both A25-54 and A18-49 demo viewers according to Nielsen. In addition to Nielsen-tracked viewers, more than 23 million have already viewed clips of the interview on NBC News digital platforms, including nearly 18 million on NBC News’ TikTok account. 

Report: Top CBS News Executives Work In Seclusion

Bari Weiss, Editor-in-Chief of CBS News since October 2025, and other top executives largely operate in a more secluded environment, with limited day-to-day visibility in the main newsroom.

According to reports, Weiss works primarily from a secured suite on the sixth floor of CBS News’ Manhattan headquarters (centered at the CBS Broadcast Center at 524/530 West 57th Street). Reports describe her as “bunkered down,” “rarely seen in the newsroom,” and maintaining a “very royal” or “remote” demeanor. She has not built close alliances with key talent or producers and is infrequently spotted around studios or control rooms.

Early in her tenure, she had bodyguards (including inside the offices for a period), which some staff found off-putting. She often participates in meetings via Zoom rather than in person and has been characterized as detached from daily operations.

Other Top Executives

Tom Cibrowski (President and Executive Editor) has an office in a different area of the building from Weiss’s suite, indicating some separation even among senior leadership.

Bari Weiss

Traditional CBS executive offices (historically in the Black Rock building at 51 West 52nd Street, though CBS News operations have consolidated elsewhere) followed a standardized corporate layout with private offices for executives, often larger and more private than open newsroom spaces. Top roles typically had substantial private suites.

CBS News has undergone real estate shifts, with programs like 60 Minutes relocating to the Broadcast Center. Executive and leadership spaces remain more isolated from the open, collaborative newsroom floors where producers, correspondents, and support staff work.

Reports of seclusion with limited physical contact with other staffers would seem to breed distrust. 

Staffers and producers have described tension, leaks, retreats into silos, and a sense of disconnection under the new leadership. Weiss’s style—more digital-native and top-down—contrasts with traditional broadcast newsroom culture, contributing to perceptions of remoteness.

However, this is fairly typical for top network executives but has drawn particular notice amid the high-profile changes and controversies at CBS News.

Pat McAfee Talking Contract Extension with ESPN

Pat McAfee is in advanced talks with ESPN for a contract extension that could pay him more than $60 million per year, according to a report Tuesday.

The former Indianapolis Colts punter, whose daily sports show has become one of the biggest in the country, would also take on a significantly expanded role in the network’s NFL coverage under the potential new deal, The Athletic reported.

McAfee, 39, has two years remaining on his current ESPN contract, which includes a licensing and production agreement for “The Pat McAfee Show” plus additional pay for his work as an analyst on “College GameDay” and other programs. The Athletic said the extension being negotiated by McAfee’s representatives could be worth more than double his existing deal.

McAfee first joined ESPN three years ago after leaving an agreement with FanDuel. He had previously been a contributor to the network’s college football coverage. His current deal simulcasts “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN, ESPN+, and his YouTube channel, while also featuring him hosting alternate broadcasts of major events, including College Football Playoff games and most recently NBA Finals Game 3.

The Late Show Set Now On Display..In Chicago

The set from CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” has arrived in Chicago for permanent display at the Museum of Broadcast Communications, preserving a major piece of late-night television history after the show’s cancellation.

The Chicago Tribune reports the complete set — including Colbert’s desk, chairs, credenza, stage columns and other elements — was delivered Thursday at noon in a large white truck to the museum’s pop-up location at 440 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop. The artifacts made a day-and-a-half journey from a New Jersey warehouse.

Museum chairman, president and CEO David Plier called the acquisition “a very big deal,” describing the set as the new crown jewel of the institution’s collection.

“The Late Show” ended its run on a high note. The star-studded May 21 finale drew 6.74 million viewers, according to Nielsen — the highest audience of Colbert’s 11-year tenure. CBS donated the set to the Chicago museum, where Colbert launched his comedy career.

David Plier

Plier said Colbert himself helped direct the set to Chicago, where it will be displayed in perpetuity.

Delivery was not without drama. An enormous crate holding the desk required multiple movers to extract from the truck and maneuver down the busy sidewalk before it could be wedged through the front doors and taken to the main floor. The set arrived about an hour late and sat in the truck for another 30 minutes while a separate moving team was assembled.

Earlier doubts about obtaining the full set arose after the May 14 episode, when Colbert and former host David Letterman dropped guest chairs and a desk from the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater. Those were extras, Plier confirmed.

The museum, a 40-year-old institution focused on broadcast history that has faced its own near-closures, now aspires to become a national repository for late-night TV artifacts.

Founded in 1987 by the late Bruce Dumont, the Museum of Broadcast Communications has occupied several homes, including River City, the Chicago Cultural Center and a River North building it ultimately lost to a real estate developer in 2023. After more than two years dark, it reopened last October in the current West Loop pop-up space.

Good Morning: Here's The Pulse For Wednesday, June 10

Radio Broadcasting

R.I.P.: Beloved Grand Ole Opry announcer and longtime WSM Radio host Bill Cody, died Tuesday at age 67 after battling kidney and heart failure. WSM Radio confirmed the news Tuesday evening.

Good Ole Days: From viral memes declaring “2026 is the new 2016” to celebrities flooding social media with 1990s throwback photos, and chart-topping songs channeling Y2K and ’90s vibes, nostalgia has taken over.

ASCAP Sues Stations: ASCAP has filed federal copyright infringement lawsuits against four radio station groups operating a total of 15 stations, accusing them of repeatedly broadcasting music from ASCAP’s songwriters and publishers without a valid license for several years.

PSKY CEO Pledges Editorial Independence For 60 Minutes

David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount, promised to respect the editorial independence of “60 Minutes” during a phone call with longtime correspondent Lesley Stahl, she told The New York Times on Tuesday.

David Ellison

The Sunday call was among Ellison’s first direct steps to ease turmoil at the CBS news program following the abrupt firing of its top leadership and several star correspondents. The changes, directed by new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, drew a sharp public rebuke from Scott Pelley, a “60 Minutes” veteran who was himself later fired.

On Monday, Stahl tried to boost morale by hosting a champagne toast for the staff at the program’s Midtown Manhattan offices. She informed colleagues of Ellison’s assurance during the gathering.

Stahl, along with remaining stars Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim, had seriously considered leaving after the upheaval and Pelley’s dismissal. In a letter to staff on Friday, however, the three said they would stay because they did not “want to see ‘60 Minutes’ die.”

“My toast was, ‘to us,’ meaning the survivors,” Stahl said in a text message Tuesday. “Maybe ‘us’ with a twinge of survivor’s guilt.”

Bari Weiss Expected to Oversee CNN Editorial

CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss is likely to gain editorial oversight of CNN if Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is approved, according to Axios.

Paramount executives have held preliminary discussions with several high-profile candidates to serve as a business-side counterpart. Weiss would continue to focus on editorial direction for the combined CBS News and CNN operations, while the new executive would manage day-to-day business and operational responsibilities.

Nostalgia Is Dominating Pop Culture in 2026

From viral memes declaring “2026 is the new 2016” to celebrities flooding social media with 1990s throwback photos, and chart-topping songs channeling Y2K and ’90s vibes, nostalgia has taken over.

Reboots and revivals of beloved franchises now dominate both film and television screens.

Consumer data confirms the trend is more than a fleeting fad. Interest in older music has steadily risen in recent years, with a larger share of listeners across every generation reporting they enjoy tracks from past decades compared to 2023. 

Capital Weather Gang Goes Independent

After more than 18 years as part of The Washington Post, the beloved DC-area weather team known as the Capital Weather Gang has relaunched as an independent operation under its original name: Capital Weather.

The move marks a full-circle moment for the popular meteorology outlet. It first launched as an independent weather blog in 2004 before partnering with The Washington Post in 2008 and rebranding as the Capital Weather Gang. Now, in June 2026, it’s back on its own at capitalweather.com, complete with a new mobile app (available on iOS and Android).

A Cult Following in the Capital Region

In the Washington, D.C., metro area, the team has built something rare in weather media: a devoted, almost cult-like following. Locals rely on them for hyper-local forecasts, insightful analysis of everything from summer thunderstorms and severe weather outbreaks to the region’s tricky winter storms (think Snowmageddon 2010 and more recent events). 

Led by founder and chief meteorologist Jason Samenow, along with experts like winter specialist Wes Junker and severe-storms forecaster Jeff Halverson, the crew delivers round-the-clock updates, radar, alerts, and a strong community vibe.

What’s New in This Independent Chapter

• Core forecasts and updates remain free for everyone.
• A new website and app offer enhanced features, including community chats and deeper insights via premium memberships.
• The team will continue radio segments on WAMU 88.5.
• Subscribers and supporters will help sustain the independent model.

The relaunch went official on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, following a soft launch. Fans have reacted enthusiastically, celebrating the return of a trusted local voice that has guided the region through blizzards, heat waves, and everything in between.

Radio History: June 10

Hattie McDaniel

➦In 1895...actress/singer Hattie McDaniel was born in Wichita Kansas.

In the 1910s she was a band vocalist, then began playing increasingly assertive maid roles on the big screen, culminating in the supporting-actress Oscar for her ‘Mammy’ in Gone With The Wind (1939), the first African-American to be so honored.  She played on the “Amos and Andy” and Eddie Cantor radio shows in the ’30s and ’40s, and had the title role in her own radio show “Beulah” (1947-51), which she also played on TV (1950-’52) until her death from  breast cancer Oct 2, 1952 at age 57.

➦In 1924…WTAM was the first radio station to broadcast coverage of a political convention when it covered the 1924 Republican National Convention at Cleveland's Public Auditorium from June 10–12, 1924. Graham McNamee provided coverage of the Republican National Convention from Cleveland. HE was also  one of the great sports broadcasters of radio’s early years.

➦In 1985...Bob Prince died of cancer at age 68 (Born - July 1, 1916). He was a radio and television sportscaster and commentator best known for his 28-year stint as the voice of the MLB Pittsburgh Pirates, with whom he earned the nickname "The Gunner" and became a cultural icon in Pittsburgh.

Bob Prince

Prince was one of the most distinct and popular voices in sports broadcast history, known for his gravel voice, unabashed style and clever nicknames and phrases, which came to be known as "Gunnerisms." His unique manner influenced a number of broadcasters after him, including Pittsburgh Penguins voice Mike Lange and Pittsburgh Steelers color analyst Myron Cope.

Prince called Pirates games from 1948 to 1975, including the World Series championship years of 1960 and 1971. Nationally, Prince broadcast the 1960, 1966, and 1971 World Series and the 1965 All-Star Game for NBC, as well as the first year (1976) of ABC's Monday Night Baseball. He also broadcast at different times for other Pittsburgh-area sports teams, including Steelers football and Penguins hockey.

An Army brat, he attended many schools in Pittsburgh. An athlete himself, he lettered in swimming at the University of Pittsburgh. Prince worked for radio station WJAS, then landed a sports show on KDKA-TV. Prince joined Rosey Rowswell in the Pirates' broadcast booth as a commentator in 1948, and he was promoted to the top spot shortly after Rowswell's death in February 1955. He also broadcast Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State football and once a Duquesne basketball game in the 1950s.

As a result of his distinct voice, knowledge of baseball, and high-profile persona, Prince was very popular among Pirates supporters. Prince was a fixture on team broadcasts for three decades on KDKA-AM, a clear channel radio station that could be heard throughout the eastern United States after sundown.

➦In 1995…Radio/TV Sportscaster Lindsey Nelson died of Parkinson's disease at age 86.