Alt-country singer Ryan Bingham and famed writer/producer T-Bone Burnett's work in the low-budget film, 'Crazy Heart,' paid off this week when it landed them a prestigious Golden Globe nomination. The movie's unofficial theme song, 'The Weary Kind,' written by Ryan and T-Bone, picked up a nod for Best Original Song. Ryan also lends his vocals to the tune, in addition to a supporting role in the movie.'Crazy Heart' tells the story of a fallen country star named Bad Blake, played by Jeff Bridges, who also scored a Globe nod for Best Actor. Ryan plays the leader of Tony & the Renegades, a pickup band that backs Bad during a bowling alley gig. Ryan's singing impressed many on set, including T-Bone who wrote much of the film's soundtrack.
"He's got this incredible, beautiful tone," T-Bone tells the Wall Street Journal of Ryan. "Hank Williams said you can't sing country and western unless you've spent a long time looking at the wrong end of a mule. Ryan has that. He spent time on the rodeo circuit."
T-Bone's other Hollywood credits include polishing up the vocals on Reese Witherspoon's singing on her Oscar-winning portrayal of June Carter Cash in 'Walk the Line' -- a movie for which T-Bone produced the soundtrack. T-Bone's most famous work came in 2002 with the Coen Brothers' 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' which won a Grammy for Album of the Year and helped revive interest in the early 20th century bluegrass music.
'Crazy Heart' hits theaters this Wednesday (Dec. 16).
