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.

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.^{[citation needed]}

While still in college, Bones went to work as a station hand at KLAZ in Hot Springs, Arkansas, but was put on the air within a few days of being hired. A manager there gave him the choice of going on the air as Bobby Z or Bobby Bones of which he chose the latter.^[5] Bones' first full-time radio contract paid him $17,000. In 2002, Bones was hired by Q100/KQAR in Little Rock, Arkansas. He then worked for radio station (KLAL), which led to his hosting The Bobby Bones Show on KHFI-FM in Austin, Texas.

According to The Washington Post, Bones is different from typical radio DJs, as he doesn't have the "classic, booming radio DJ voice".^[6] Despite being commonly referred to as such Bones does not refer to himself as a DJ.

Bones appeared in the 2009 feature film, Bandslam, with Vanessa Hudgens. He has also appeared on the ABC drama Nashville and has been a guest host with Kelly Ripa on Live! with Regis and Kelly.^[17]

In 2012 Bones was part of the Fox Sports Radio lineup, hosting the weekend sports talk program Roddick and Bones with tennis star Andy Roddick, airing Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on nearly 300 radio stations.^[18]

Bones is also the host of the podcast “The Bobbycast” where he interviews singers/songwriters of all genres^[19] which The Washington Post dubbed as a "treasure trove of unusually candid anecdotes."^[20] He has also launched his own podcast network, the Nashville Podcast Network.^{[citation needed]}

On May 17, 2016, he released his first book entitled Bare Bones, I'm Not Lonely If You're Reading This Book.^[21]

In 2018, Bones was a guest mentor for season sixteen of American Idol (the first to air on ABC) during the top 24 round. On November 6, 2018, it was announced Bones would become a full-time mentor for the series beginning in season seventeen.^[22] During an episode which aired April 8, 2019, Bones served as guest host, as host Ryan Seacrest was sick and missed the taping.^[23]

In June 2019, Bones filmed an episode of Running Wild With Bear Grylls in Norway. The episode aired on January 14, 2020.^[24] He was a judge of Topgolf's original series Who Will Rock You.

He signed an overall deal with BBC Studios.^[25]

Breaking Bobby Bones, on the National Geographic Channel began airing in 2021. In each episode, Bones meets a real person doing a "real" job or sport, works with them to learn how to do it, and is critiqued on his performance. At the end of each episode, Bones does something special for week's guest that will improve their life, or help them with their career or other goals.^{[citation needed]}

On December 31, 2021, Bones, along with Rachel Smith of Entertainment Tonight, hosted New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash. It was broadcast live from Nashville on CBS.^{[citation needed]}

In 2022, Bones hosted the USA Network competition series Snake in the Grass.^[26]

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]

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]