Jeff Bridges Inks Record Deal With EMI’s Blue Note Records to Release Debut Album in Summer 2011

Actor Jeff Bridges turned country when he took on the role of Otis "Bad" Blake, a grizzled former country music legend, in the 2009 film 'Crazy Heart.' His part in the movie earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, and now has scored him his first record deal with EMI's Blue Note Records.

For the full-length album, Bridges will once again collaborate with his longtime friend, the multiple Grammy Award-winning songwriter, musician and producer, T-Bone Burnett, whom he worked closely with on 'Crazy Heart.' Besides his contributions to the 'Crazy Heart' movie and soundtrack, Burnett is also known for his work with Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, Elton John and Leon Russell, and the Grammy-winning soundtracks to 'O Brother, Where Are Thou?' and 'Walk the Line.'

Bridges and Burnett met over 30 years ago when Kris Kristofferson introduced them during the filming of the 1980 motion picture 'Heaven’s Gate.' The two kept their friendship and business relationship going strong over the years, as Burnett was responsible for selecting the songs that appeared on the soundtrack to Bridges' 1998 film 'The Big Lebowski.' Burnett also co-wrote several songs for the soundtrack to 'Crazy Heart,' including 'The Weary Kind,' which earned him his second Oscar nomination and first win (along with songwriter Ryan Bingham) for Best Original Song.

Bridges' album for Blue Note will be an organic extension and culmination of his personal, professional, and now musical friendship with Burnett. Burnett has assembled a number of his key repertory players to perform on Bridges’ album, including Keefus Ciancia, Mark Ribot, Dennis Crouch and Jay Bellerose, and guest vocalists Rosanne Cash, Sam Phillips and Benji Hughes.

Bridges will contribute several of his own compositions as well as perform material by a collection of world-class songwriters, including Burnett’s 'Crazy Heart' collaborators -- the late Stephen Bruton and John Goodwin -- as well as Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey, Tom Waits and others.

Look for Bridges' debut album to hit stores this summer.