Trent Barry Clutts, 67, affectionately known to many as Billy Cody, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 9th, 2026.

Trent was born on December 16, 1958 in Huntsville, Alabama to Rev. William Allen and Helen Ruth Robison Clutts. As a young boy they moved from Huntsville to Crab Orchard, KY where his father was a preacher. At the age of 7, they moved to the big city of Lebanon, KY.

It was there that he found his love of radio. Every Sunday, Rev. Clutts taped his morning sermon to be played back at 1pm on local station WLBN and Trent would always accompany him to swap out the tapes. One day “I was out in the lobby just waiting on my daddy and looking through the window, and I could see Frank Kemp with those headphones on. He was pushing buttons, and the records would spin, and that red light would come on” and that was the beginning for him.

It was also there that he found the love of his life. During his senior year, Rebecca Wheatley, who was just a sophomore, caught his eye in study hall. Winking at her from across the room to get her attention, he asked his best friend “who is that girl in the peach pants?” And over 50 years later, he was still winking at her and still in love. They shared nearly 47 years of marriage, building a home and raising their family together.

After graduating from Marion County High School, his career took him to WVLK in Lexington, WHAS in Louisville, WHOO in Orlando and KKYX in SanAntonio. In SanAntonio, he told his wife Rebecca, “We won’t move again unless my dream job at WSM ever comes available”. Well, in April of 1994 that phone call came. His dream since childhood had come true and off to Nashville he and Rebecca and their 3 children went.

For 32 years, he served as host of WSM’s flagship morning program, Coffee, Country & Cody, and became a renowned announcer and host of the Grand Ole Opry.

Inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2008, he has earned multiple nominations from the CMA, ACM, and Billboard. In 2024, he was honored with a star on the Music City Walk of Fame Park. And posthumously inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.

His credits include American Saturday Night: Live from the Grand Ole Opry, GAC-TV’s Master Series, The Dailey & Vincent Show, Tennessee Wildside, The Nashville Network, The Circle Network, Ray Stevens’ Nashville, and Bill Cody Presents. He has also been heard on Bill Cody’s Classic Country Weekend, Pure American Country, Nashville Record Review, Country’s Most Wanted, events and red carpets at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Music City Walk of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Country Radio Hall of Fame, and Ryman Auditorium, as well as Willie’s Roadhouse on SiriusXM and United Airlines’ in-flight country music programming.

Trent was more than just a radio and television personality. His biggest accomplishments were not made on a stage in the public eye. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend. And most importantly, he loved the Lord and was never afraid to share his faith with others. He and Rebecca had 3 children, Luke, Hannah and Levi. He was an active member of Orlinda Baptist Church. And if you wanted to see him really light up, ask him about his grandchildren, Lily Ruth and Isaiah.

In his death, the resounding sentiment from those who loved him has been how he always made you feel seen, feel loved, and feel like somebody. And that’s the very best representation of Christ on this earth…how well we love people and how we make them feel.

He is survived by his beloved wife Rebecca; his children, Luke Clutts, Hannah (Aaron) Davis, his daughter-in-law Heather Clutts; and his grandchildren Lily Ruth and Isaiah Davis. He is also survived by his brother, Ray (Beverly) Clutts.

He is preceded in death by his son Levi Clutts, and his parents William and Helen Ruth Clutts.

Services will be held on Monday, June 15th at the Grand Ole Opry house. Visitation will be from 10am to 1:30pm in the Circle Room. The service will begin at 2pm in the Opry House. Burial to follow at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery in Cross Plains. 

Arrangements are entrusted to Sumner Funeral and Cremation Lakeside, Hendersonville (615)822-4442, www.sumnerfuneral.com Proud to be family owned and operated.