John-Carlos Estrada
Anchor
Meet John-Carlos Estrada, your anchor on CBS Austin This Morning, weekdays from 4:30 to 7 a.m. With nearly two decades of journalism experience, John-Carlos has anchored and reported in cities across Texas and Florida. He launched his career as a network producer in New York City and Washington, D.C.
His storytelling has earned recognition from the GLAAD Media Awards, Telly Awards, Lone Star EMMYs, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, Texas Association of Broadcasters, Texas AP Awards, Florida AP Awards, and the Florida Society of Professional Journalists.
In Austin, he’s been named one of the city’s top anchors/reporters by The Austin Chronicle, the Austin Under 40 Awards, and HABLA Con Orgullo, which honors Latino leaders making a difference in Central Texas.
John-Carlos is also an award-winning filmmaker. His documentary Barbette + Fontaine, inspired by a feature he reported for CBS Austin, tells the story of Round Rock-born drag artist Barbette, who captivated audiences in Paris during the 1920s. The film has been honored with NLGJA’s Excellence in Documentary, Wicked Queer’s Best of Show, and a Lone Star EMMY nomination. He is also the director and producer of This Is Texas, a new documentary about the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus spotlighting its trans members and their journey to GALA Choruses. He continues to develop projects that highlight untold stories and LGBTQ+ history through a Texas lens.
He is currently writing a book about Barbette for UT Press, Texas’ largest book publisher. The biography, scheduled for release in 2027, traces Barbette’s rise from small-town Texas to international stardom and explores the legacy he left behind.
A proud graduate of Columbia Journalism School and The George Washington University, John-Carlos was born in Dallas, raised in Garland, and now holds dual U.S.–Mexico citizenship—deeply connected to both cultures.
In Austin, he shares his life with his husband, Bruce, a local physician and UT Medical School professor, along with their French Bulldogs—Sanibel, Violet, and Louie—and stepchildren, Carson and Ainsley. Together, they love exploring the city and staying active. John-Carlos has completed the Marine Corps Marathon, the Philadelphia Marathon, and several Ragnar relays and half-marathons across the U.S.
Community service is central to his work. He volunteers with Blood Cancer United, Make-A-Wish, Junior Achievement, Communities In Schools, the Hill Country Ride for AIDS, and the City of Austin’s Día de los Muertos celebration. He also serves as vice president of the board at ASHwell, one of Austin’s LGBTQ+ clinics and the city’s future LGBTQ+ community center.
John-Carlos is the founder and president of the Barbette’s Legacy Foundation, an arts scholarship honoring the legacy of Barbette in partnership with Round Rock Pride. The foundation supports emerging LGBTQ+ artists and ensures Barbette’s story continues to inspire future generations.
A proud first-generation Mexican-American, John-Carlos visits local schools to share his journey in journalism, reminding students that no matter their background, Sí, se puede.
