Longtime Nashville Entertainment Reporter Jimmy Carter Dies

Longtime Nashville entertainment reporter Jimmy Carter, known for his interviews with country music legends and Hollywood stars, has died. His granddaughter and family revealed how he passed, as colleagues remember the broadcaster whose career spanned decades.

Jimmy Carter spent decades getting close to some of the biggest names in country music and Hollywood, building a reputation as a trusted journalist with stories few others could tell.

Now, following news of his death, his family has shared a detail about his final moments that has left his loved ones and colleagues mourning a man who always seemed to be on the move.

Nashville Mourns a Familiar Face From Country Music and Hollywood

Carter, a longtime entertainment reporter for WSMV Channel 4 and a contributor to WSM Radio, died on October 13, 2026. His family confirmed that he was 73. The news prompted an outpouring of tributes from people who knew him as a broadcaster, colleague, mentor, and devoted family man.

WSM Radio announced his death in a heartfelt Facebook tribute, remembering him as a cherished member of the WSM family who brought passion for country music, unforgettable stories, and deep industry connections to Coffee, Country & Cody.

The station also praised Carter as a trusted source and gifted broadcaster whose warmth, humor, and friendship touched artists, listeners, and colleagues throughout Nashville's media community. But beyond his professional accomplishments, the circumstances surrounding his death have brought a more personal dimension to the tributes.

His Granddaughter Reveals How He Spent His Final Moments

Carter's granddaughter, Kira Sparks, shared the news of his passing in an emotional Facebook tribute. "We received news today that my grandfather, Jimmy Carter, passed in his sleep," Sparks wrote.

The family confirmed that he passed away in his sleep to WSMV 4. The news that Carter passed away in his sleep has nevertheless provided a detail about his final moments as those closest to him begin to process their loss.

Sparks described her grandfather as someone who was always ready to drop everything for his family, no matter the circumstances. "He was someone who would drop everything on a dime to be there for his family. It never mattered what the situation was; if you needed him, he was there like Superman."

Rather than dwell on the sadness of losing him, Sparks said she wanted to remember the moments that made him special. "He hated seeing any of us cry and always said that the worst thing you can do is focus on what makes you sad, so instead of that, I'm going to focus on all our memories."

Her tribute offered a glimpse of the man behind the television interviews and radio broadcasts: a grandfather who took pride in making his family happy, even when it meant going out of his way to create memories they would never forget.

The Grandfather Who Turned Ordinary Days Into Lasting Memories

Among the memories Sparks shared was a childhood outing to see the Cheetah Girls. Carter arranged tickets for her and her friends, rented a limousine, and helped make the occasion memorable enough that they appeared on the news in matching leopard-print outfits.

He also kept buying concert tickets for his granddaughter despite her habit of falling asleep during the shows. Sparks recalled that Carter would tease her about it, but her excitement never stopped him from arranging another outing. "He didn't care about the cost of happiness. He didn't worry about the work. He just loved seeing his family happy."

His daily routine was another part of the picture she painted. Carter woke at 4 a.m. for his radio work, disliked sleeping in, and would sometimes sneak out to get breakfast from Hardee's. For Sparks, however, it was the comfort he offered that stood out most. "And his hugs could heal something in you that you didn't know needed healing."

Carter leaves behind three daughters, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, according to Sparks. Her tribute made clear that his legacy at home was just as important as the one he built in broadcasting.

Former Colleagues Remember a Journalist Who Never Put Down the Mic

Carter's death also prompted tributes from former colleagues who remembered his personality and the influence he had on Nashville broadcasting.

Demetria Kalodimos, a longtime Channel 4 colleague, shared her reaction in a Facebook post. "Shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of my longtime Channel 4 colleague Jimmy Carter. He was a great journalist and natural broadcaster long before carving out a meaningful entertainment beat in Music City and beyond."

Kalodimos recalled that Carter worked alongside Dan Miller to create the legendary Miller and Co. and continued supplying radio and television stations nationwide after leaving the weekly grind at WSMV.

She also remembered him as a gifted communicator with a genuine love of people. "He was a great lover of people, a fluid and funny communicator and an all-around great guy. My prayers and hugs go out to his family, his daughters and grandkids. Carter...you broke the mold."

Melanie Layden, another former WSMV colleague, also expressed her grief in a Facebook tribute, remembering Carter as a familiar face during the station's heyday.

"So sad to hear the news that my friend and our beloved WSMV entertainment reporter Jimmy Carter has died. He was a fixture in the WSMV heyday, covering red carpets, award shows, big music events and movie premieres."

Layden said she had known Carter for years after they worked weekends together and recalled how fascinating he was to talk to. "He had countless stories about all kinds of celebrities…. with people like Dolly Parton and Brad Paisley on speed dial!"

Beyond his on-air work, Carter also taught a course at Belmont University and taught the members of Florida Georgia Line before they became famous. Layden praised him for being a trusted source for major names in entertainment long before social media transformed how celebrities communicated with the public.

"He was THE trusted source for many big names long before social media ruled the world. I wish he had written a book!" Layden added that Carter's granddaughter had said he died peacefully in his sleep at 73 and concluded, "Prayers for his family. He will be greatly missed!"

Former Channel 4 sports anchor Rudy Kalis offered a similar assessment in an interview with The Tennessean, praising Carter's confidence when dealing with major celebrities and his ability to make them feel comfortable.

"I absolutely admired Jimmy Carter because he wasn't intimidated by anyone, and yet he was able to endear himself to any of the biggest stars. But beyond that, he was a good, caring friend and a wonderful father and grandfather."

Carter's work had earned him recognition beyond Nashville, but the tributes suggest that his ability to connect with people was what colleagues valued most.

A Career That Brought Him Face-to-Face With Hollywood Legends

Born on October 15, 1952, in Montgomery, Alabama, Carter developed an interest in broadcasting as a teenager. His career eventually took him from local radio to television news production and entertainment reporting, with opportunities to meet some of the most recognizable names in American entertainment.

According to his professional biography on his website, Carter began on-the-job training at a rock radio station in 1968, when he was 15. He later attended Auburn University, where he helped build the campus radio station that became WEGL-FM.

His early experiences included working with ABC's Wide World of Sports, where he served as a runner, graphics artist, and general assistant. He even had the opportunity to work in the booth with legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell.

Carter went on to work in several areas of broadcast journalism, including reporting on civil rights, hurricanes, and controversial politics in Alabama. He also worked as a television news producer in Birmingham and Houston before becoming an executive producer at WSMV in Nashville.

His work earned significant recognition, including a DuPont-Columbia award and an Edward R. Murrow award for work associated with television news coverage. He also received an Emmy for public service television work in Nashville, alongside multiple Emmy nominations for news, children's programming, sports, and public affairs specials.

But it was his entertainment coverage that made him a familiar name to audiences who followed country music and Hollywood.

From Dolly Parton to Clint Eastwood, He Had the Stars on Speed Dial

During his years as WSMV's entertainment reporter, Carter interviewed a remarkable range of celebrities, including Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Clint Eastwood, Sylvester Stallone, and Kevin Costner.

His work also took him around the world as a correspondent for the nationally syndicated Crook & Chase shows. From James Bond premieres in London to the Academy Awards in Hollywood, Carter built a career around getting close to the people whose work captivated audiences.

On his website, he recalled interviewing stars across generations, including Sean Connery, Jack Lemmon, and Robert Redford. He described having firsthand knowledge of the country music industry through decades of covering performers and their careers.

His Most Unusual Celebrity Memories Included Elvis Presley

Carter's own website offered a few clues about why his life in entertainment might have filled an entire book. He identified interviewing Bob Hope as his first celebrity interview and meeting Elvis Presley twice among his career highlights. He also recounted taking a bath at Presley's Memphis home, Graceland, and singing onstage with Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits.

Carter even floated a possible title for a future collection of his show business stories: I Got Naked in Graceland and Other True Show Biz Stories by Jimmy Carter. The playful suggestion reflected the humor and curiosity that colleagues remembered, as well as his ability to find extraordinary experiences in a career that took him far beyond the newsroom.

He also worked with Barbara Mandrell's production company as a writer and producer, contributing to two highly rated specials in The Nashville Network's history.

Away from his entertainment reporting, Carter taught at Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. His classes included electronic media and the music business, public relations, and artist management, bringing industry professionals into the classroom to share their experience with students.

His work was not limited to television appearances, either. Carter continued producing and sharing entertainment content online, building an audience through his website, Facebook, and YouTube channel.

Another Loss for a Beloved Nashville Radio Show

Carter's death comes just months after the loss of Bill Cody, the longtime WSM radio personality whose name was part of Coffee, Country & Cody. Cody died in Nashville on June 9, 2026, at 67, following serious heart and kidney problems, according to his obituary coverage in Variety.

Cody had spent decades at WSM-AM and was also a familiar voice as an announcer for the Grand Ole Opry. His morning show welcomed country stars from across the industry, making it an important stop for performers promoting their music and connecting with listeners.

Carter's contributions to the program helped make him part of that same Nashville tradition, bringing his entertainment knowledge and industry relationships to audiences who wanted more than just the latest headlines.

The two losses have marked a difficult period for a radio community built around familiar voices and long-standing relationships with country music artists.

Jimmy Carter's Legacy Will Live On Through His Stories

In recent years, Carter maintained a strong presence on social media, where he shared Nashville news and entertainment stories with more than 41,000 Facebook followers, according to The Tennessean. His YouTube channel had nearly 22,000 subscribers.

Those platforms gave him another way to connect with audiences after years spent reporting from television studios, red carpets, and major entertainment events.

His career spanned radio, television production, journalism, celebrity interviews, and teaching, giving him a rare perspective on the business he had entered as a teenager. Yet his family's memories reveal a man whose instinct to show up for others extended well beyond his professional life.

As Nashville's media community reflects on his passing, Carter leaves behind not only decades of reporting and countless stories about the stars he met, but also the memories of a father, grandfather, colleague, and friend who never seemed to run out of things to say—or people to make laugh.