Longtime Opry Announcer Needs Heart and Kidney Transplant After Medical Emergency

Bill Cody, the longtime announcer at the Grand Ole Opry, is in need of some help. Videos by Wide Open Country The Country Radio Hall of Famer was admitted to the ICU three weeks ago after being diagnosed with heart and kidney failure, according to his daughter, Hannah. WSM Radio, the radio home of the Grand Ole Opry, shared a message from Hannah on Instagram. She stated that her father's only chance for survival is a heart and kidney transplant. The Grand Ole Opry Announcer's Health Is in Decline Bill had passed all the necessary health tests to clear him for the transplant. But on Saturday night, his health took a turn for the worse. Doctors had to intubate Bill and place him on artificial life support. His heart's strength has weakened severely, and he needs an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a machine that pumps blood outside the body, adds oxygen, and returns it to the body, helping his lungs and heart function. Being on ECMO also carries risks for the Grand Ole Opry announcer. It increases the chance of stroke, blood clots, and possible infections. Despite these risks, staying on ECMO is necessary for Bill to qualify for a possible double transplant. Hannah added that the transplant team is scheduled to meet with her father today to decide if he is a candidate for this life-saving procedure. Bill Cody Needs Your Prayers Hannah finished her message by asking those in the Nashville and country music community to pray for a miracle for her father. She wrote, "We need a miracle and we know God is able. Please, if you're able, stop and pray for these things. Our family can't thank you enough. We love you all." The comment section lit up with messages from fans and country music stars alike, in the hopes that the Grand Ole Opry announcer can get the miracle he so desperately needs. Dierks Bentley wrote, "We love you Bill and are praying for you pal." "Praying so hard for Bill Cody and his family and the entire WSM Radio family. We love you Bill," added The War and Treaty. Mark Willis shared, "Lifting Bill up in our prayers." You can read Hannah's message below. Music Here’s Where You Can Watch the Grand Ole Opry 100th Anniversary Shows This Weekend Music Flashback: Blake Shelton Inducted Into The Grand Ole Opry By Trace Adkins Music How Do Artists Become Members of the Grand Ole Opry? Music Grand Ole Opry to Broadcast from 2018 Bonnaroo Music Festival