Bobby Bones

Bobby Bones Headshot

Broadcaster • Personality • Host

Birth Name: Bobby Estell

Birth Date: April 2, 1980

Age: 44 years old

Birth Place: Hot Springs, Arkansas

American radio and television personality Bobby Bones was born Bobby Estell on April 2, 1980 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Raised poor in the small town of Mountain Pine, Arkansas, Bones dreamed of escaping poverty with a career in radio. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in radio/television from Henderson State University in 2002, getting experience disc jockeying on the campus radio station.

He was hired by KHFI-FM in Austin, Texas and began the "The Bobby Bones Show" regionally in the mornings. Bones spent a decade in Austin building the top-rated morning radio show. In 2012, the successful show moved to Nashville, switched up to a format which included more country music. In 2013 it became syndicated nationwide and was a major interview spot for country music stars.

In addition to his success in radio, Bones broke into television appearing on an episode of "Nashville" (ABC, 2012-18) and guest hosting on "Live! with Regis and Kelly" (ABC, 1983- ). He joined "American Idol" (Fox, 2002-2016, ABC, 2018-) first as a guest mentor in 2018 and then as a regular mentor and occasional host.

Also in 2018, Bobby Bones competed in the 27th season of "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ) and took first place with his dance partner Sharna Burgess.

Credits

Snake in the GrassStream

Host
Reality
2022

New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash

Host
Show
2021

Breaking Bobby BonesStream

Host
Reality
2021

Country Strong 2020: Countdown to the CMA Awards -- An ABC News Special

Guest
Show
2020

Opry Live: 95th Anniversary Celebration

Host
Show
2020

CMA Best of Fest

Actor
Show
2020

Celebrity Game FaceStream

Self
Game Show
2020

iHeartCountry 4th of July BBQ

Host
Show
2020

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

CMT Celebrates Our Heroes: An Artists of the Year Special

Music Performer
Special
2020

The Disney Family Singalong

Music Performer
Special
2020

The Grand Ole Opry

Host
Show
2020

Dolly Parton: Here She Comes Again!

Actor
Show
2019

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Guest
Talk
2019

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

CMA Fest

Host
Show
2019

Charley Pride: I'm Just Me

Actor
Show
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

The 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors

Guest
Show
2018

The 2019 Miss America Competition

Judge
Show
2018

The Bobby Bones Show

Host
Show
2018

iHeartCountry Festival

Host
Show
2018

Daily Blast Live

Guest
Show
2017

To Tell the TruthStream

Guest
Game Show
2016

The Breakfast Club

Guest
Show
2015

Celebrity Family FeudStream

Guest
Game Show
2015

The Rich Eisen Show

Host
Show
2014

Running Wild With Bear GryllsStream

Self
Reality
2014

The Breakfast Club Power Hour

Guest
Show
2014

NashvilleStream

Guest Star
Series
2012
91%

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

Guest
Show
2007

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

Dancing With the StarsStream

Contestant
Reality
2005

American Idol

Guest
Reality
2003
68%

American Idol

Self
Reality
2003
68%

Entertainment Tonight

Host
News
1981

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutBobby Bones

Bobby Bones and Julianne Hough

‘DWTS’: Bobby Bones Fires Back After Julianne Hough Brands Him Worst Champ Ever

Savannah Chrisley and Bobby Bones

Savannah Chrisley Slams Bobby Bones For His Comments About Her Parents’ Conviction

Snake in the Grass Episode 1

‘Survivor’ & ‘Big Brother’ Stars to Compete in USA’s ‘Snake in the Grass’

Carson Daly and Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton-Carson Daly Bar Competition, Bobby Bones Social Experiment & More Head to USA Network

'American Idol,' ABC, Bobby Bones

Why Is Bobby Bones Leaving ‘American Idol’ for Season 20?

Bobby Bones and Rachel Smith

Bobby Bones and Rachel Smith to Host CBS’ ‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’

Breaking Bobby Bones PJ Haynie Harvest Corn
Preview

Bobby Bones’ Nat Geo Show Succeeds Because of His Failures

Breaking Bobby Bones
Q&A

Bobby Bones on Being Uncomfortable & Failing ‘Horrendously’ in His New National Geographic Series

Casey Bishop

‘American Idol’ Top 7 Celebrate Mother’s Day and Take on Coldplay Songbook (RECAP)

John Stamos and Chayce Beckham
Spoiler Alert

‘American Idol’ Wild Card Revealed as Top 10 Celebrate Disney Night (RECAP)

Arthur Gunn American Idol 2021

‘American Idol’ Season 18 Finalists Return to Fight for Slot in Top 10 (RECAP)

Grace Kinstler

‘American Idol’ Top 12 Add Their Shine to Oscar-Nominated Classics (RECAP)

Graham DeFranco

‘American Idol’ Showstopper: 12 of the Top 24 Make It Through the First Half of a New Round (RECAP)

Claudia Conway

‘American Idol’ Hopefuls Kick Off ‘Hollywood Week’ With Genre Challenge (VIDEO)

Bobby Bones
Preview

‘American Idol’ Mentor Bobby Bones on Why Being a Good Singer Is No Longer Enough

American Idol

‘American Idol’ Season 19 Begins Production With New Safety Measures

American Idol Top 5
Spoiler Alert

‘American Idol’ Crowns Its 2020 Winner — Did America Make the Right Choice?

american idol

‘American Idol’ Renewed for Season 4 at ABC

American Idol

Everything You Need to Know About ‘American Idol’s First Remote Finale

American Idol Season 18

Who Will Win ‘American Idol’? Ranking the Top 11’s Chances

Francisco Martin American Idol ABC

‘American Idol’ Top 11: Did America (and the Judges) Choose Correctly?

American Idol Just Sam

11 Must-See ‘American Idol’ Moments From First Home Performances (VIDEO)

American Idol cast

How ‘American Idol’s Live Show Will Broadcast From Across the Country

Olivia Ximines American Idol
Exclusive

First Look at Olivia Ximines’ Previously Unseen ‘American Idol’ Performance (VIDEO)

American Idol Arthur Gunn

‘American Idol’: 7 Must-See Performances From the Top 40 Pt. 2 (VIDEO)

BOBBY BONES, MAKAYLA PHILLIPS
Q&A

‘American Idol’s Bobby Bones Calls Hollywood Week ‘a Showcase of Willpower & Grit’

BobbyBones_509_RunningWildWithBearGrylls_06
Exclusive

Bobby Bones Gets Caught in a Precarious Position in ‘Running Wild With Bear Grylls’ (VIDEO)

Bobby Bones
Q&A

Bobby Bones on Hosting CMA Fest and Filling in for Ryan Seacrest on ‘American Idol’

STEVE HARVEY, ANDY RODDICK, BROOKLYN DECKER, TESSA DECKER, STEVE DECKER
Exclusive

Sneak Peek at Bobby Bones vs. Brooklyn Decker & Andy Roddick on ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ (VIDEO)

Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan

Should ‘American Idol’s Current Judges Return for Season 18? (POLL)

RYAN SEACREST, BOBBY BONES

Did ‘American Idol’ Work Without Ryan Seacrest? Fans React

american idol hollywood week 2019

‘American Idol’: The 14 Best Hollywood Week Performances (VIDEO)

ERIN ANDREWS, SHARNA BURGESS, BOBBY BONES, TOM BERGERON
Finale

‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 27 Winners & Runners-Up React to That Shocking Finale

Bobby Bones at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Festival

Who Is Bobby Bones? Meet the New ‘American Idol’ Mentor