Bobby Bones
Bobby Bones (born Bobby Estell; April 2, 1980)[1] is an American radio and television personality, best known for hosting the nationally syndicated The Bobby Bones Show, originating from the iHeart Studios in Nashville, TN, and for his role as a full-time mentor on American Idol on ABC. He was the winner of season 27 of Dancing with the Stars with partner Sharna Burgess. He has also written two New York Times best sellers. Bones has also released a number of country music albums through Black River Entertainment.
Bobby Bones
Radio personality, television personality, author, comedian, musician
6 ft (183 cm)[2]
Vocals
Early life and education[edit]
Bones was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on April 2, 1980, and raised in the small community of Mountain Pine, Arkansas.[1] He has said his mother became pregnant with him at age 15, when his father was 17.[3] He was raised by his mother and maternal grandmother. His biological father was with him until the age of five, but then left the family.[4] Bones began dreaming of a radio career around the age of 5. His mother died at age 49 after battling addiction problems in 2014.[5] He grew up poor, and often viewed radio as a way of escaping poverty.[4] Bones began his radio career at age 17 at the campus station of Henderson State University, KSWH-FM "The Pulse". He graduated with a B.A. in Radio/Television from Henderson in 2002.
Personal life[edit]
On September 28, 2013, Bones and his crew were part of a team that set the Guinness World Record "Most hunger relief meals packaged in one hour (team)".[28]
On August 5, 2015, during the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump, Bones filed an "all purpose" trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the rights to the phrase "Make America Great Again". Trump had registered the phrase for "political action committee services" but not for its use on hats, t-shirts, duffel bags, and other apparel and accessories that Bones now had the rights to. Two days later, on August 7, Bones tweeted, "hey @realDonaldTrump, if you donate 100k to @stjude, I will give you your clothing trademark back. thanks! – Bobby". Bones later tweeted an image on October 29 of a check from The Trump Organization for an undisclosed amount, stating it would go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and that Trump could "have [his] slogan back".[29]
On January 3, 2017, Bones announced he was considering a run for governor of Arkansas in the 2018 election.[30] On March 14, 2017, Bones announced he was not running.[31] Bones is also a Democrat.
In July 2021, Bones married Caitlin Parker.[32]
Awards and honors[edit]
For four years running, from 2004 to 2008, Bones was named Best Radio Personality by the Austin Music Awards, presented by The Austin Chronicle and SXSW. The Bobby Bones Show also won Best Radio Program 2007–2008.[33] On April 6, 2014, Bones, Amy, and Lunchbox won their first Academy of Country Music Award for National On-Air Personality of the Year, just nine months into Bones's first year in country music.[34] Bones became the youngest ever inductee into the National Radio Hall of Fame during a ceremony on November 2, 2017, at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.[35] The University of Arkansas awarded Bobby with an honorary doctorate at their Spring 2022 commencement ceremonies.[36]