Bilbrey also played the role of historian for the A&E biographies of Buck Owens and Ronnie Milsap. In 2006, Bilbrey received the prestigious AIR Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. WSMV-TV and the Ralph Emery Show (1976–2000) In addition to his career in country music, Bilbrey spent twenty-four years as an on-air personality for WSM-TV, NBC’s Nashville affiliate. Bilbrey served the majority of this period as the weatherman on the nation’s top-rated local morning show, The Ralph Emery Show, which featured live music and skits in addition to the traditional news, weather and sports. Leaving WSM In March 2009, Bilbrey was let go from WSM and the Grand Ole Opry. The news drew a great deal of local coverage, including numerous articles in The Tennessean and daily stories on the local news affiliates. Angry fans circulated a petition that collected over 4,000 signatures. According to The Tennessean, the decision to release Bilbrey was simply a matter of cutting costs with advertising revenue slumping. At Bilbrey’s last Opry show, many performers dedicated songs to him, and Marty Stuart brought Bilbrey to the front of the stage for a final word with a standing ovation. Recent career Bilbrey currently serves as the studio announcer for Huckabee, a TV political commentary program on TBN hosted by the Republican former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee. He is also currently the announcer and Larry's sidekick on Larry's Country Diner television series on RFD-TV (including live performances in Branson, Missouri), and co-hosts Nashville Country Cookin''' with his wife (Emy Joe) on the Rural TV Network. Additionally, he hosts a syndicated radio show, Classic Country Today''. The weekly, two-hour program can be heard on approximately 175 stations nationwide. Bilbrey was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2015, while pursuing a variety of business opportunities and writing his memoir. In 2012, Bilbrey was recognized by the Sigma Chi fraternity with the Significant Sig Award, presented to "those alumni members whose achievements in their fields of endeavor have brought honor and prestige to the name of Sigma Chi". References 1952 births Living people People from Cookeville, Tennessee American radio personalities Tennessee Technological University alumni