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The up-and-coming country-rock star and the legendary singer-songwriter were recognized for their work with the Academy Award nomination of "The Weary Kind (Theme from 'Crazy Heart')," from "Crazy Heart," for best original song.

Bingham said he is working on his album now with Burnett, who supervised the music in “Crazy Heart” and co-wrote “The Weary Kind” with Bingham. (Burnett, of course, is a legendary music producer who has a shelf full of Grammys for such albums as the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' "Raising Sand." He also has a previous Oscar nomination, for the "Cold Mountain" song "Scarlet Tide.")

“I’ve got most of the songs already written and I’m sure T Bone will come up with some more tunes and we will go from there,” Bingham said.

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CNN has confirmed that "Boston Legal" and "G-Force" actor Justin Mentell was killed in a car accident in rural Wisconsin on Monday. Mentell was 27 years old.

According to a news release from the Iowa County Sheriff's department, Mentell was driving his 2005 Jeep when it veered off the right shoulder and into a steep embankment, crashing into two trees.

Mentell wasn't wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the car. He was discovered around 8:30 a.m. on Monday and was pronounced dead on the scene.

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Screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher didn’t have an easy time of it adapting the novel “Push” by Sapphire into a script for the film “Precious.”

“It’s told through the voice of a semi-literate character and the content at times is very graphic,” Fletcher said. “For those reasons it was largely considered unadaptable.”

Fletcher persevered, however, and his hard work paid off Tuesday with an Academy Award nomination for best adapted screenplay.

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Ellen DeGeneres takes her seat as the newest “American Idol” judge on February 9.

The comic/talk show host will make her debut on the show during the Hollywood round where contestants will vie for a spot among the Top 24 semifinalists.

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The reactions to Tuesday morning's Academy Awards nominations keep pouring in. Here are more statements from nominees, as told to CNN:

Best actress nominee Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side":

"Who would have thought after all these years that I would be experiencing this moment now . . . I certainly didn't. But I am honored beyond words to experience this journey with John Lee Hancock and Gil Netter, and to continue this astounding ride with the extraordinary women I share this category with. My time with them these past few months has meant more than anything to me."

Best supporting actor nominee Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station": "I am very pleased and honored to be up there with those other four terrific actors. I liked the little movie."

Best animated feature, best original screenplay and best picture nominee director/writer Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera, "Up":

"We are humbled and grateful to the Academy. Being nominated among these remarkable animated films is such an amazing privilege. On top of that, to be honored as one of the best pictures of the year is just mind-blowing. It’s truly been a long, wonderful ride getting here, and with all sincerity it really does feel like we’re floating on air."

Best original screenplay nominee Mark Boal, "The Hurt Locker":

"I'm extremely grateful to Kathryn Bigelow for believing in this script when it was safer to believe in unicorns, and thankful to the actors for elevating it and making it sing, and last but not least Nicolas Chartier for putting his money up."

Best picture nominee producers Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove, "The Blind Side":

"We are so grateful to the Academy for this staggering honor. We want to thank John Lee Hancock for writing and directing a wonderful film that has been the pleasure of our careers to produce; to Sandra Bullock, who brought the character so fully to life, and to our producing partners Gil Netter and Molly Smith."

Anna Kendrick didn't know she was nominated for her best supporting actress for her role in "Up in the Air" until her roommate sent her text message on her phone.

"I didn't want to watch the live feed and just be sitting around and feeling awkward, so I got up at 5 a.m. and went running so I could be by myself. I was alone in the dark, listening to music," Kendrick told CNN in a phone interview.

"It [was] really perfect and it allowed me to have a moment, so it was just for me."

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"Precious" has been unstoppable, taking the wave of critical acclaim that began on the film festival circuit and riding it straight into awards season. The movie, based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire, got six Oscar nominations this morning.

Mo'Nique is up for best supporting actress; Gabourey Sidibe is nominated for best actress in a lead role; Lee Daniels has been given the nod for best director; Geoffrey Fletcher is nominated in the best adapted screenplay category; Joe Klotz gets the nod for film editing, and, last but not least, the movie is also up for best picture.

The initial reaction to the news? "There's a lot of screaming in my household today," producer Sara Siegel-Magness said.

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Penelope Cruz's role in "Nine" has been good to her this awards season.

The actress was nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG award for her portrayal of Guido's mistress, Carla, and she's also snagged an Oscar nod as well for best supporting actress.

"I am completely surprised and elated," Cruz said of the nomination.

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24: Day 8, 9 p.m. – 10 p.m.

In the last seven days, I have come to a stark realization. Since last week's episode, two truths are now plainly evident. The first truth is that "24" fans seriously dislike, loathe, do not care for, nor have any respect for the Dana Walsh (aka Jenny) subplot. They hate it, and since "hate" is a strong word, I'll say they REALLY hate it.

Truth number two is that "24" fans are either hopelessly perplexed or completely repulsed by new CTU Director Brian Hastings' role along with his trusty Bluetooth headset. In each case, I am officially with you. We stand united.

To put it bluntly, Dana Walsh and her smarmy ex-con/ex-boyfriend Kevin's storyline is, in a word - (clearing my throat and speaking from my diaphragm) - LAME. It is utterly awful. I'll admit, I was a bit late blowing the whistle on this subject, but I'd like to thank the scores of readers who made sure I came to this conclusion swiftly. Please accept my apologies for the delay.

I think the show's writers have something up their sleeve, but then again, they simply have to have something huge in store for these two. After all, any dude that can just show up at CTU headquarters in a beat up van whenever he feels like it is a clear indication that a great plot is unfolding at some point right? It just can't be as lame as it appears at this point. I MUST think that way since this is a glass half-full kind of blog.

Speaking of a half-full glass, shouldn't we be raising that glass for CTU analyst Arlo Glass, who began snooping on Dana after last week's "I know we're in a crisis, but I gotta run home" stunt? Well, I had zero interest in Arlo before, but he hit pay dirt with the video camera fixed on Dana and Kevin, and as a result, we Bauerites have a reason to hope. I believe he will blow the whistle and deliver us from this foolish storyline. Arlo Glass, salut!

Meanwhile, let's move on to CTU Director Brian Hastings. Like many of you, I have become so critical of Hastings' character on the show that I look at all Bluetooth headsets funny now. Suddenly, they don't seem cool anymore. Not that Bluetooth headsets weren't teeter-tottering on absurd before, but Hastings brings the situation to an elevated threat level. Never mind the fact that everyone at CTU has one, this guy has even tainted my view of the technology, at least temporarily.

By my count in last night's episode, Hastings' two scenes were two too many, and he brings absolutely nothing to CTU. Sure, there are a few second guesses here and there, some delayed decision-making, and the occasional spats with Chloe, but otherwise, he is just "in the way". I find myself wondering aloud "what would Bill Buchanan do?"

I also asked myself how I would feel if either the Russian mobsters "offed" him in a daring raid, or he simply fell down the stairs in CTU headquarters. Either way, he'd be gone for an undetermined length of time, and I would be alright.

Otherwise, I thought the episode moved around at a good pace. Between Renee "going dark," Ortiz's sniper heroics, and Jack's German, that part of the story was pretty fluid and twisty. By the end, the buildup for next week had me intrigued and fatigued.

Loved, kinda liked, or hated the show? Let us know!

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There are 22 films that have more than one Oscar nomination this year. They are as follows:

9 – Avatar, The Hurt Locker FULL POST