Bobby Bones Selected as the 2024 Johnson Fellow

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Bobby Estell, professionally known as Bobby Bones, will visit the university campus April 8-10 as the 2024 Arkansas Alumni Association Johnson Fellow.

The Johnson Fellows program is named for Dr. Jeff Johnson B.A.'70, and his wife, Marcia. The Johnsons endowed the program in 2009 with the specific purpose of bringing esteemed alumni back to the University of Arkansas campus to engage and inspire students.

“Marcia and I are thrilled to have Bobby Bones as this year’s Johnson Fellow,” Jeff Johnson said. “We look forward to him sharing with students his story of success in all types of media.”

Estell will share his extensive media knowledge during his visit to Fayetteville in classrooms and other venues across campus. Estell will deliver his Johnson Fellow Q & A, presented in cooperation with the Distinguished Lecture Series, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, at the Jim & Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center. No admittance will be granted without a ticket. Tickets for students with a current uark.edu email address are available through HogSync; however, they must log in to HogSync before reserving. The public may reserve tickets through osa.uark.edu.

“I was unable to attend the U of A for my college years because of financial reasons, but it is no secret I have always been a devoted Razorback fan and supporter,” Estell said. “I was beside myself when I was extended an honorary doctorate from the university in 2022, and I’m unbelievably honored to be returning to campus as this year’s Johnson Fellow recipient.”

Estell, an Arkansas native and lifelong Razorback supporter, is well-known for hosting The Bobby Bones Show. It is the most listened-to country music show in the nation and a regular interview stop for top country music stars and celebrities. The award-winning show is a three-time CMA Award winner and four-time ACM Award winner and earned Estell the title of youngest-ever inductee into the prestigious National Radio Hall of Fame. His experience extends to television as he has served as host of USA Network’s thrilling competition series, Snake in the Grass, starred in National Geographic’s Breaking Bobby Bones, served as the official in-house mentor on ABC’s American Idol, and won season 27 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Additionally, Estell hosts the fan-favorite podcast BobbyCast, which features candid long-form interviews with top artists and industry figures. Estell is the two-time, number-one New York Times bestselling author of Bare Bones: I’m Not Lonely If You're Reading This Bookand Fail Until You Don't: Fight Grind Repeat. He also authored the best-selling children’s book Stanley The Dog: The First Day of School. The U of A awarded Estell an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the May 2022 All University Commencement.

For more information about Estell and the Johnson Fellows program, visit www.arkansasalumni.org/JohnsonFellows.

About the Arkansas Alumni Association: The Arkansas Alumni Association Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to connect alumni, friends and students to the University of Arkansas. The association’s mission is to connect and serve the University of Arkansas family.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.