Songsmith and actor Ryan Bingham and his wife, filmmaker and director Anna Axster spent more than a decade together building a life and a family together. They had three beautiful children, achieved successful careers, and even established their own record business. But their ‘happily ever after’ ended last June 2021 when Bingham filed for divorce. It came unexpectedly as Bingham opened up just six months before in an interview with Express about feeling “whole” in his life with Anna and their kids.
And so, for one last time, let’s take a look back at their love story before they decided to call it quits.
From wandering to settling down
When Ryan Bingham started to make a life out of music, he was homeless and living out of his truck. He spent his days driving from town to town to perform. One time, he was playing a gig in L.A. when Axster’s roommate happened to catch him and brought home a demo of his. Axster heard his CD; one particular song stood out to her, and she wanted to use it in a film she was working on. There was no contact information on the CD, so Axster met Bingham personally to ask for permission.
In an interview with Express, Bingham said that when he met Axster, they were both vagabonds just roaming around the country. Then they hit it off right away and became practically inseparable.
And in August 2009, they stopped wandering. In a beautiful backyard ceremony in Malibu, the couple decided to start a life together. The wedding was officiated by noted Texas songwriter and visual artist Terry Allen, one of Bingham’s earliest supporters who got his preacher license online.
According to Allen, when the couple first asked him to officiate, he told them they must have been ‘totally stoned out of their gourds’ or had a nervous breakdown. But it turned out they weren’t and were completely serious. Allen then asked them to write letters to each other, which he surprisingly read as the couple’s vows during the wedding.
They got a place in L.A. and settled down.
Meet the Muse: Who is Anna Axster?
Ryan Bingham’s ex-wife, Anna Axster is a filmmaker and director, and she spent a bit of time doing film productions in the UK and Spain. She made her directorial debut in 2015 with her self-written film “A Country Called Home” starring Imogen Poots, Mackenzie Davis, Mary McCormack, June Squibb, and a supporting role by her husband, Ryan Bingham. Before that, she directed two short films, “Souvenir” in 2006 and “Sweet Sting” in 2007.
But most of her directorial works are music videos. In an interview with Bingham for The Great Discontent, he said Axster does all his music videos, album art, and photography. He really trusts her because no one looks out for his best interest more than she does. He also added that collaborating with his wife, who understands who he is and where his songs come from, is something great.
Aside from his music videos, Axster also produced her husband’s TV Special Ryan Bingham Live in 2016.
Building a life together
The two started to build their careers, supporting each other’s endeavors and collaborating on many projects. And one of their biggest collaborations happened in 2012 when they started their own record label Axster Bingham Records. In an interview with Courtney Sudbrink for the Lonestar Music Magazine, Bingham explained the decision to start their own label after a three-record run with Lost Highway Records. He said that he and his wife were already doing the management stuff together, and they came to a point where they could do it on their own, so it just made sense to do it. Months later, Bingham put out his fourth studio album and the label’s debut album Tomorrowland.
But aside from their careers and business, the two also focused on building their own family.
And in March 2015, during a performance in Austin, Texas, Bingham happily shared with fans that he and his wife were expecting their first child together. Years later, they were blessed with two more.
From whole to half
While the couple had been very private with their lives, Bingham had always openly appreciated his wife and kids. He called his wife his biggest supporter and that his family made him feel “whole.”
Unfortunately, their fairy tale love story came to an end last 2021. Ryan Bingham filed for divorce. Up until now, there has been no information about their divorce or any sort of settlement.
Ryan Bingham and his now ex-wife Anna Axster have definitely grown a lot with each other. And with these separate new chapters ahead in their lives, we only hope they’d find the love and peace they deserve.
