The magazine featured the “unlikely rise (and rise, and rise) of the most powerful man in country music.” In the article, author Andy Langer detailed the rise of Bones career while also sharing what some would consider lows, but what Bones considered his talents.
Below is an excerpt from the feature,
“All this for a radio disc jockey? Terrestrial radio audiences have been shrinking for a decade, but Bones is no ordinary DJ. Between his syndicated shows—which run on more than one hundred radio stations—and his popular music-less podcast, he reaches a reported 9.2 million people a week. Millions more follow him on social media or tune in to see him on American Idol and, more recently, Dancing With the Stars. He’s arguably the most influential voice in country music today, with the power to turn new artists into breakout stars
As music genres have blurred in recent years and country fans have grown more diverse, Bones’s willingness to break from Nashville orthodoxy has fueled his popularity. It’s not just the music he plays. He’s called out the misogyny of the bro-country movement, launched a show that exclusively features female performers, and spoken openly about issues surrounding mental health.
His lack of conformity also tracks nicely with his relentless message of personal empowerment. Bones (né Estell) bootstrapped his way to the top of country radio, essentially hacking the system wherever he could to create opportunities for himself.”
