Bobby Bones, an American radio and television personality, is best known for his nationally syndicated country music radio show, The Bobby Bones Show. Despite growing up in poverty, he pursued education and earned a B.A. degree in Radio/Television at the age of twenty-two. With a passion for radio since childhood, he began his career as a disc jockey while studying at Henderson State University. Bobby later joined 96.7 KISS (KHFI-FM) in Austin and started developing The Bobby Bones Show, which eventually became a national sensation after being moved to Nashville. Now reaching 100 cities, Bobby Bones is not only beloved by his audiences but also an accomplished author with two bestselling books and a dedicated mentor on American Idol.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Bobby Estell
- Age: 43 Years, 43 Year Old Males
- Family: father – Pamela Hurt, mother – Hazel Hurts, siblings – Amanda
- Born Country: United States
- Radio Personalities
- American Men
- Height: 6’0″ (183 cm), 6’0″ Males
- U.S. State: Arkansas
- More Facts
- Education: Henderson State University
- Awards: Academy of Country Music Award for National On-Air Personality of the Year
Childhood & Early Life
Bobby Bones, born as Bobby Estell on April 2, 1980, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, grew up in a challenging environment. His father left the family when Bobby was nearly five years old, leaving his mother, Pamela Hurt, to raise him and his younger sister, Amanda, on her own. They lived in a trailer in Mountain Pine and relied on welfare checks and food stamps for survival. Bobby’s mother struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs, which led to her absence for most of his childhood. As a result, Bobby was legally adopted by his grandmother, Hazel Hurt, and was raised by her for a period of time. Unfortunately, his grandmother passed away when he was a teenager.
Early Infatuation with Radios
On his fifth birthday, Bobby received a small radio as a gift from his aunt. The local DJ even wished him a happy birthday on the radio, which fascinated Bobby and sparked his interest in becoming a radio personality in the future. He spent a lot of time listening to radio stations like KLAZ 105.9 and US 97, where he discovered his love for artists like Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Johnny Cash, Randy Travis, and Conway Twitty.
Despite growing up in poverty, Bobby Bones received a proper education. He graduated from Mountain Pine High School in 1998 and went on to attend Henderson State University, where he earned his B.A. degree in Radio/Television in 2002.
Early Career
During his time at Henderson State University, Bobby joined the university’s radio station, KSWH-FM “The Pulse.” He later moved to KLAZ 105.9, initially working as a studio hand before being given airtime. It was during this time that he had to choose between the monikers Bobby Z or Bobby Bones, ultimately settling on Bobby Bones. After graduating from Henderson, he worked at various radio stations in Little Rock before moving to Austin in 2002 to work for 96.7 KISS (KHFI-FM), a commercial radio station owned by Clear Channel (now iHeartMedia).
Building Bobby Bones Show
While working at KHFI-FM, Bobby Bones was initially assigned to the evening slot but was soon moved to the morning slot. It was during this time that he began developing his signature show, the Bobby Bones Show, which premiered in February 2003. The show, specializing in the Top 40 format, quickly became Austin’s most popular morning show. Bobby gradually expanded the show through selective syndication, increasing his popularity. Despite receiving other offers, he chose to stay with KHFI-FM.
In Nashville
In 2012, Clear Channel relocated the entire Bobby Bones Show to Nashville, where it was syndicated by Clear Channel’s subsidiary, Premiere Networks, and launched nationwide on the country music format. The show premiered on February 18, 2013, and Bobby also launched another weekend program called Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones. By 2016, the Bobby Bones Show was available on 68 radio stations, making it a popular platform for interviews with country music stars and other musicians.
Other Activities
In addition to hosting radio shows, Bobby Bones has pursued various other ventures. He released an EP called The Raging Kidiots in 2015 and his studio album, The Critics Give It 5 Stars, in 2016. He also published his memoir, Bare Bones, I’m Not Lonely If You’re Reading This Book, in 2016, followed by Fail Until You Don’t: Fight. Grind. Repeat in 2018. Bobby Bones launched the Nashville Podcast Network in 2017, which includes his podcast, BobbyCast. He has also appeared as a guest mentor on American Idol and competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2018.
Major Works
Bobby Bones is best known for hosting The Bobby Bones Show, a nationally syndicated country music radio show that reaches millions of listeners across the US. The show has gained popularity and is carried by numerous radio stations. Bobby Bones has received several awards and achievements throughout his career, including being named Best Radio Personality by the Austin Music Awards from 2004 to 2008 and winning the Academy of Country Music Award for National On-Air Personality of the Year in 2014.
Personal Life
Not much is known about Bobby Bones’ personal life. However, there have been rumors that he is dating his Dancing with the Stars partner, Sharna Burgess.