Jeff Bridges signs to EMI Blue Note

Inspired by their collaboration on "Crazy Heart," Bridges will record the album with producer T-Bone Burnett, who is known for his work with Allison 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 more than 30 years ago when Kris Kristofferson introduced them during the filming of the 1980 motion picture "Heaven's Gate." The relationship has continued over the years as Burnett selected the songs that appeared on the soundtrack to the 1998 film "The Big Lebowski," starring Bridges, as well as co-writing several songs for the soundtrack to Crazy Heart, including The Weary Kind, which earned Burnett his second Oscar nomination and first win (along with songwriter Ryan Bingham) for "Best Original Song."

Burnett 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 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.