Longtime Nashville radio personality and Grand Ole Opry announcer Bill Cody is in critical condition in the hospital, battling heart and kidney failure and in need of a double organ transplant for survival.
Cody, a Country Radio Hall of Famer with nearly 50 years on the airwaves, was admitted to the ICU about three weeks ago. His condition has deteriorated rapidly, leading doctors to place him on an ECMO life-support machine that takes over heart function after a recent decline.
His daughter, Hannah Davis, shared the update on social media on May 31, 2026, describing a "roller coaster" of tests, dialysis, medications, and setbacks. A double heart-and-kidney transplant was identified as his only option. Cody passed qualifying tests for the transplant list, but his heart strength faltered, prompting intubation and ECMO support.
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| Bill Cody |
His warm voice and deep knowledge of country music have made him a staple in Nashville broadcasting. He also serves as a Grand Ole Opry announcer and has appeared in national radio, television, and film projects.
Honors include induction into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2008, multiple CMA, ACM, and Billboard award nominations, and a star on the Music City Walk of Fame in fall 2024. His career began in his hometown of Lebanon, Kentucky, as a preacher’s son, and he joined WSM in 1994.Cody and his wife Rebecca, high school sweethearts, raised three children and live near Cross Plains, Tennessee. The country music community, including artists and fans, has rallied with prayers and well-wishes as he fights for recovery.
Cody had stepped away from the microphone earlier in 2026 for health reasons, though details were not initially public. Recent recognitions, such as his upcoming Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame induction, have been bittersweet as he continues treatment.