Ryan Bingham Says 'Nothing's Changed' Despite 'Crazy Heart' Oscar Nomination

Posted on Feb 3rd 2010 3:00PM by Garin Pirnia
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On Tuesday morning, country singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham woke up to great news: the song 'The Weary Kind (Theme Song from Crazy Heart)' that he co-wrote with legendary musician T-Bone Burnett for 'Crazy Heart' was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Song category.

"I'm really tired right now, but this morning I was excited," Bingham tells Spinner of his whirlwind press day. Bingham also revealed that if he wins an Oscar on March 7, he'll more than likely put the golden boy in his bathroom.

The Texas-bred Bingham moved to L.A from Austin a couple of years ago to focus on his music career -- he's already released two full-length albums -- when one day his agent hooked him up with 'Crazy Heart' director Scott Cooper. Bingham wrote the song around the story of a washed-up country star named Bad Blake, played brilliantly by Best Actor nominee Jeff Bridges.

"For an album, you're coming up with stuff on your own," Bingham explains. "When you have a script, you already have a story to write about. You describe what's already going on in the script. It can take you out of your head for a while."

Not only did Bingham write and perform 'Weary Kind,' he also delved into his first acting role, sharing a couple scenes with Bridges in the film. "He's a really laidback guy," Bingham says of Bridges. "He had a really good vibe and he really took all that stress and pressure away and made it fun. I'd definitely like to do something with him and T-Bone as well."

Bingham's already slated to work with Burnett again in March when the producer will helm Bingham's follow-up to last year's 'Roadhouse Sun.' "You definitely learn a lot," Bingham says on collaborating with the mighty Burnett. "You just sit and listen to all the good stories he has to tell."

Despite all the hoopla surrounding the awards season, Bingham is taking his newfound fame in stride. "I'm glad to do my part and help out, but at the end of the day, nothing's really changed," he says. "I go to bed in the same bed and wake up in the same place and put my pants on one leg at a time and don't get too worked up over it." More than anything, he just wants to make music for a living and "not have to get a day job washing cars or doing road construction. Fortunately, I've been getting to play music."