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Keith Bilbrey
Keith Bilbrey
Keith Bilbrey is an American country music disc jockey and television host in Nashville, Tennessee. He served as a disc jockey at Nashville’s WSM, as an announcer on the Grand Ole Opry, and as the host of TNN’s Grand Ole Opry Live. Keith Bilbrey was born in Cookeville, Tennessee. In 1974, Bilbrey moved to Nashville to begin working for WSM, first as a substitute announcer for WSM-FM and then as a full-time disc jockey on WSM’s FM and AM stations. Throughout his career, Bilbrey worked every single time slot at WSM and became an iconic voice in the modern history of the station and fan favorite. Bilbrey is currently the announcer and Larry’s sidekick on the highly rated “Larry’s Country Diner” TV series on RFD-TV, he is also the announcer on “Music City Roots”, a live weekly radio and TV show.
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Larry's Country Diner | Country Music Variety Show
A country music variety show in a diner format - where the cameras are always rolling and we don't care!
“Larry's Country Diner,” the wholesome, down-home, nationally-broadcasted variety show known for its spontaneity, impromptu dialogue and live-to-tape performances by the best country music artists of yesterday and today, had a surprise guest on set the morning of December 3, 2012. Larry Black, known for telling his famed guests, “Once the tape starts rolling, it's not stopping—you get yourself in trouble, get yourself out,” found the tables turned with an unexpected, on-set visit by Tennessee State Senator, Joe M. Haynes.
Larry's Country Diner is a unique down-home variety show which integrates entertainment, interviews and music in a weekly format, taped LIVE in front of a studio audience in a country diner setting. The show features regular characters including Black, Keith Bilbrey, Sheriff Jimmy Capps, Waitress Renae and avid church lady, Nadine along with appearances by special guest appearances by country music artists of yesterday and today.
This includes great names in country entertainment like Rhonda Vincent, Gene Watson, T. Graham Brown, Ray Stevens, the Malpass Brothers and many others.
Since its initial airing on August 3, 2009, TV show Larry's Country Diner has produced over 100 episodes and has become one of the most popular shows on RFD television, garnering 1.4 million viewers monthly.
Larry's Country Diner is a product of Gabriel Communications. Owned and operated by longtime disc jockey Larry Black, Gabriel Communications was created in 1996 and specialized in “Reunion” videos. The success of these videos spurred the creation of more than a dozen more projects featuring hundreds of songs and stories as well as Country's Family Reunion News, a monthly newspaper which highlights the music of yesteryear.
They also do performances in theatres across Branson, Missouri (including upcoming shows on October 3-7, 2022 at the Clay Cooper Theatre). The cast also joins cruises every year for all-star performances with guests from Country's Family Reunion. They recently did a handful of shows at the Western Carribean Cruise in February 23-28, 2022.
Country's Family Reunion, Black's flagship variety show, also hosts a wide range of country music artists popular then and now, including Gene Watson, Rhonda Vincent, Marty Haggard, the Malpass Brothers and many other household names in country entertainment. For more information, visit their site at www.cfrvideos.com.
Keith Bilbrey | Larry’s Country Diner
Larry’s Country Diner features country music legend Keith Bilbrey
Keith Bilbrey is an American country music disc jockey and television host in Nashville, Tennessee. He served as a disc jockey at Nashville’s WSM, as an announcer on the Grand Ole Opry, and as the host of TNN’s Grand Ole Opry Live. Keith Bilbrey was born in Cookeville, Tennessee.
In 1974, Bilbrey moved to Nashville to begin working for WSM, first as a substitute announcer for WSM-FM and then as a full-time disc jockey on WSM’s FM and AM stations. Throughout his career, Bilbrey worked every single time slot at WSM and became an iconic voice in the modern history of the station and fan favorite.
When The Nashville Network (TNN) began televising a thirty-minute portion of the show in 1985, the Bilbrey became the first host of Grand Ole Opry Live. Bilbrey hosted Opry Live, along with the Opry warm-up show Backstage Live, until TNN stopped airing the show in 2000. Keith Bilbrey's affiliation with the Opry earned him additional opportunities in the world of country music television and radio.
In March 2009, Bilbrey was let go from WSM and the Opry. Unsurprisingly, the news drew a great deal of local coverage, including numerous articles in The Tennessean and daily stories on the local news affiliates. According to The Tennessean, the decision to release Bilbrey was simply a matter of cutting costs with advertising revenue slumping.
In May 2nd, 2015, Keith Bilbrey was inducted as a member of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame after his long career in country music and entertainment.
Keith Bilbrey is currently the announcer and Larry Black’s sidekick on the highly rated “Larry’s Country Diner” TV series on RFD-TV. He is also the announcer on “Music City Roots”, a live weekly radio and TV show and "Huckabee", a weekend show with former AR governor Mike Huckabee.
Who is Keith on Larry Black Country Diner?
Many people these days know Keith Bilbrey primarily as the announcer for the Huckabee show, airing weekends on the Trinity Broadcasting Network with former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee. Born and raised in Tennessee, he and his wife, Emy Joe, also hosted a TV show called Nashville Country Cookin’, and Keith served as host for Music City Roots, and continues to host a syndicated radio program, Classic Country Today, on many stations around the US.
Nashville locals remember him as an on-air personality on WSM-TV, and NBC affiliate in town for more than two decades, where he appeared regularly on The Ralph Emery Show, and as an announcer on Larry’s Country Diner.
How old is Keith on Larry's Country Diner?
Bilbrey is now 70 years old (2022). He was born in August 14, 1952 in Cookeville, Tennessee to Leo and Ethel Bilbrey, and is the youngest son of three children. He started working in radio from the age of 14 and got his broadcast license at that early age.
Keith Bilbrey served as a disc jockey at Nashville's WSM, as an announcer on the Grand Ole Opry, and as the host of TNN's Grand Ole Opry Live. He has been married to his wife Emy Joe Bilbrey for quite some time now. He also had one son with ex-wife Eve Bilbrey, Mark, who passed away in a motor accident in 2018.
In June of 2021, the Bilbreys suffered the loss of their home to a devastating fire that took almost all of their belongings. Country music artists and their community rallied around them, putting together a night of performances on "Coming Home: Rebuilding the Bilbreys", live-streamed on Country Road TV.
Who is the current announcer for the Grand Ole Opry?
Bill Cody is the current announcer for the Grand Ole Opry. Cody has been a member of Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame since 2008 and is in his 25th year as morning show host of WSM's “Coffee, Country & Cody”.
Before Bill Cody, Keith Bilbrey served as a host and announcer on the show for over two decades, starting in 1982 where he joined a long tradition of legendary Opry announcers, including George D. Hay, Grant Turner, Ralph Emery, and Hairl Hensley. He was let go from WSM and the Opry in March of 2009, which drew the ire of many fans across the state.
What happened to Keith Bilbrey's house fire?
The Nashville area home of Keith Bilbrey was severely damaged by fire early in June of 2021. The Bilbreys were barely able to escape as the house became quickly engulfed in flames.
According to Emy Joe Bilbrey, she and Keith just had time to grab their dog and run out of the house with nothing but the clothes on their backs. She offered thanks to the firefighters who were able to save Keith’s musical instrument collection, but they were unable to save their vast store of Opry memorabilia, his trove of cowboy boots from the house fire, their vehicles, phones, tablets, computers, and almost all their personal photos and effects.
These past few years have been a struggle for the Bilbreys, as Keith was unexpectedly terminated from WSM radio in 2009. Then in 2018, their son, Mark, died in an automobile accident during a severe storm. The Country Music Community came together for a fundraising concert to help in the rebuilding efforts for the Bilbrey family.
Is Larry's country Diner a real restaurant?
No, it's not an actual restaurant with made-to-order food and menus, although audience members do get to actually eat a hot meal while they watch the show. The show initially aired in August 3, 2009, and airs in front of a live studio audience on RFD-TV with weekly replays.
What cruise line is Larry's country Diner?
The cast joined the Western Carribean Cruise for a five-night trip on February 23-28, 2022. The cruise line included three shows from Country's Family Reunion, one all-star show with Larry Black, Keith, Renae and Nadine, and an exclusive meet-and-greet with the country music legends.
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