Jimmy Carter, the longtime Nashville entertainment reporter whose name was practically synonymous with country-music media, died on October 13 at the age of 73, according to The Economic Times, which reports his family confirmed the news.

His granddaughter, Kira Sparks, said he died in his sleep; the family has not publicly shared a cause of death. Yahoo also reports the death, noting Carter was a familiar voice in Nashville country music who passed peacefully while sleeping.

The two outlets' accounts corroborate the core facts: the date, the age, and the family's confirmation.

The Economic Times reports Carter spent 21 years with WSMV Channel 4 — six years in the 1980s, then a return from 2003 to 2018 — becoming a fixture at red carpets and Music Row events.

Both publishers describe him as a trusted name among artists and a bridge between fans and the entertainment industry.

According to The Economic Times, Carter's interviews put him across from Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Clint Eastwood, Sylvester Stallone and Kevin Costner — a roster spanning country, pop and Hollywood.

The outlet reports his journalism earned him duPont-Columbia and Edward R. Murrow awards, citing WSMV.

Among his own favorite memories, The Economic Times says Carter listed interviewing Bob Hope as his first celebrity interview, recalled meeting Elvis Presley — including taking a bath at Graceland — and sang on stage with Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits.

The Economic Times reports Carter's granddaughter Kira Sparks shared a tribute on Facebook, writing that her grandfather 'passed in his sleep' and describing a man who would drop everything to help a loved one and encouraged the family to focus on happy memories rather than sadness.

She recalled his 4 a.m. wake-ups for radio and early Hardee's breakfast runs. 'He didn't care about the cost of happiness.

He didn't worry about the work. He just loved seeing his family happy,' she wrote, per the report.

Carter is survived by three daughters, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren — a detail both The Economic Times and Yahoo report.

Both publishers frame Carter as a connector at a moment when Nashville's entertainment media ecosystem is changing; WSM Radio posted a tribute remembering the station's connection to country music and the people who worked in the industry, as The Economic Times reports.

His website biography aside, he kept building directly with fans: The Economic Times notes he shared Nashville entertainment news on Facebook, where he attracted more than 41,000 followers, and his YouTube channel drew 22,000 subscribers — an early case of a local broadcaster owning his own distribution.

Funeral arrangements had not been announced in reports published Wednesday morning, The Economic Times reports, so fans should watch WSM Radio and Nashville outlets for memorial details.

For the country community, the immediate aftermath is tribute-driven: former WSM Radio colleagues remembered him as a valued friend and broadcaster, according to The Economic Times, while Yahoo's coverage positions him as a respected figure in country music media.