For nearly 40 years, Tom Bodett’s voice was as much a part of Motel 6 as the budget rates and roadside signs. Now, that long-running partnership has officially come to an end — not with a farewell ad, but with a courtroom settlement.
Bodett has resolved his lawsuit against Motel 6 and its parent company, G6 Hospitality, after accusing the chain of continuing to use his name and signature voice even after their relationship unraveled. The settlement came to light through a recent filing in a federal court in Manhattan. The fine print, however, remains under wraps.
The dispute traces back to a missed payment. Bodett alleged that the motel chain’s new owner failed to deliver a $1.2 million annual payment due earlier this year, prompting him to cut ties. Despite that, he claimed, Motel 6 kept featuring his voice on its nationwide reservation phone line — a move he said crossed contractual lines and violated trademark law.
Motel 6 pushed back, denying any wrongdoing and countering that Bodett himself breached the agreement, which, according to the company, justified withholding payment. The legal battle began in June and simmered for months before ending quietly in settlement.
Now 70, Bodett is more than just an advertising voice. He’s an author and voice actor with a long résumé that includes National Public Radio and multiple Ken Burns documentaries. His association with Motel 6 began in 1986, and he has said the brand’s famous promise — “we’ll leave the light on for you” — was something he improvised, not something handed to him by an agency.
Motel 6 is currently owned by OYO, part of Prism, which acquired the chain from Blackstone Real Estate in late 2024 for $525 million.
With the case settled and the ads silenced, one of the most recognizable voices in American hospitality has finally gone dark — ending an era that spanned generations of travelers.
