Oscars Score In Ratings, “Weary Kind” Wins Song

Pictured at the post party for a Nashville screening of "Crazy Heart." (L-R): BMI's Jody Williams, Lost Highway recording artist Ryan Bingham, T-Bone Burnett, Jeff Bridges, and New West Records President Cameron Strang. Photo: Erika Goldring

Country music had a much deserved moment in the Hollywood spotlight last night (3/7). “The Weary Kind,” written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song during the telecast which drew the highest ratings since 2005.

Bingham, a Lost Highway artist, and Burnett penned the song for Crazy Heart, starring Jeff Bridges as a past-his-prime country singer. Bridges also won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of “Bad Blake.” Bridges, Bingham and Burnett all won in similar categories during the recent Golden Globes.

Also at the Oscars, Sandra Bullock was named Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in The Blind Side, a film that also starred Tim McGraw in a supporting role.

According to preliminary data from Nielsen, last night’s Academy Awards drew an average audience of 41.3 million viewers. This is the show’s highest ratings in five years, since 2005 when 42.2 million people tuned in. The Oscars sank to record low viewership in 2008 with 31.8 million. By last year its numbers had rebounded, making this the second consecutive year of ratings growth.

CBS reports that Nielsen is counting digital video recorder data for the first time this year, which could make comparison to last year’s ratings a little off.

Below is Bingham’s performance of “The Weary Kind” on SIRIUS XM’s Outlaw Country.