We’ve all heard that expression, “life imitates art.” Well, that certainly seems to be the case for actress Hassie Harrison and her singer/songwriter/actor hubby Ryan Bingham.
Harrison and Bingham both star on the hit series Yellowstone, the Kevin Costner-led western drama that has taken the nation by storm.
The 5-season series follows the drama of the Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in Montana, the Yellowstone Ranch. Harrison portrays a barrel racer named Laramie, who was initially the love interest of Forrie J. Smith’s character, Lloyd, before turning her attention to Bingham’s character, Walker, a handsome ex-con who works as a hand on the Dutton ranch.
The couple made their real-life romance Instagram official in April 2023 when Bingham posted a photo of the couple embracing in front of a campfire with the caption “More than a spark” and a flame emoji. Harrison responded, “I love you, cowboy.”
Get to know Hassie Harrison
The vivacious blonde, 34, is a native of Dallas, Texas whose credits include Tacoma FD and The Iron Orchard. Hassie Harrison was bit by the acting bug early in life. Her mom was heavily involved in children’s theater when Hassie was young, and she began pursuing her passion at an early age.
By 15, she was in college and studying at the European Cinema in Copenhagen, Denmark. She earned roles early in her career on Hart of Dixie, The Astronaut Wives Club and Southbound.
Harrison joined the Yellowstone in 2020 for their third season to play barrel racer Laramie. The cast is mostly male-dominated, but Harrison does not seem to be intimidated by her fellow costars. In an interview with Outsider, Harrison says, “It’s awesome! I feel really lucky that all these guys are so cool. There’s a lot of razzing… I get razzed a lot, but I think they might have hired the right girl who can stand her own ground and just have fun!”
“When I first saw Yellowstone, I fantasized about working in Montana, riding horses, and staring up at the mountains while having a coffee from John Dutton’s porch, but I figured that would never happen,” Hassie Harrison told Meaww. “Then one day, I got that impossible call that made all of us chase this crazy dream in the first place.”
For Harrison, playing the role of a cowgirl was a no brainer. “I grew up in Texas around this cowboy culture so I knew I had an easy way into this character. Getting to be a part of a modern-day western and bring Taylor Sheridan’s words to life is something larger than I’d even let myself dream.” She also never imagined she’d find true love.
Learn more about Ryan Bingham
Originally from Hobbs, New Mexico, Bingham, 43, started on the rodeo circuit in his teens as a bull rider and initially began playing music for his friends after rodeos. His interest in music blossomed and he began playing bars and honky tonks. He signed his first record deal with Lost Highway Records in 2007.
After two critically acclaimed albums, he connected with famed producer T Bone Burnett who was working on the soundtrack for the 2009 film Crazy Heart, starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Collin Farrell.
Bingham co-wrote and performed “The Weary Kind” and also had a small role in the film. “The Weary Kind” went on to win Bingham an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and Critics’ Choice for Best Song in 2010. The next year it earned Bingham and co-writer, Burnette, a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.
Bingham’s star continued to rise as he won The Americana Music Association’s Artist of the Year honor in 2010. Bingham’s music and acting careers intersect on Yellowstone where he has performed some of his original songs, including fan favorite “Wolves.”
He joined Yellowstone in season one as Walker, a ranch hand on the Dutton Ranch. He started off working with the show through his music career, writing some songs for the series. Later on, Yellowstone writer Taylor Sheridan asked him to join as a cast member.
In an interview with Popculture, Bingham said, “I originally met Taylor a few years back when he wrote and directed a film called Wind River. He contacted me about writing a song for the film. I never seemed to come up with anything for the movies at that time that fit, but we always kept in touch and remained friends.”
Bingham continued, “And when this show started up, he contacted me again about possibly writing some songs and using some of the songs that I already had, and after hanging out for a while, he learned that I had a history with rodeo and the cowboy thing. And so he said, ‘Heck, I got to write you into this show.’ And so that’s how that all started.”
Hassie Harrison and Ryan Bingham’s love story
Harrison and Bingham met on set and hit it off, but for this adorable duo, it wasn’t love at first sight. As a matter of fact, it was Harrison’s mom who gave Bingham the push to pursue her daughter.
“Our story is thanks to my mom,” Harrison revealed to Vogue in an in-depth article covering their big day. “She and Ryan met by chance through a mutual friend at a charity event in Dallas during a production break. I wasn’t there, but it just happened to be during a time when both Ryan and I were transitioning into new chapters of our lives. They got to talking and discovered just how many Texas-based friends and acquaintances we had in common — so sensing an opportunity, she encouraged Ryan to give me a call.”
Since getting together and going public with their relationship, Bingham and Harrison haven’t shied away from sharing the love with their fans and followers, often taking to Instagram to give a glimpse into their life together.
“Highly recommend taking your cowboy to the beach,” Harrison captioned an adorable pic of her in a pink bikini and Bingham in green trunks, a floral shirt and cowboy hat.
In addition to well wishes from fans, some of the couple’s Yellowstone co-stars chimed in with Kelly Reilly, who portrays tough-as-nails Beth Dutton, leaving heart emojis and Finn Little, who plays Carter, serving up some practical advice, “Sunnies & Sunscreen…get into it @hassieharrison.”
Ryan and Hassie tie the knot
The couple, who got married in October of 2023, made things official in a ceremony held at Harrison’s family home in Texas.
In an interview with Vogue, the actress gave readers an inside look into their special day, from her outfit changes, what was on the menu and their “cosmic cowboy” after-party that had us itching for an invite.
“It was like something out of a fairytale,” Harrison said of her special day, even revealing that she and Bingham wrote their own vows.
“Delivering them was emotional,” she said. “It was hard to hold back tears. My vows were not just promises to Ryan but also to his children,” Hassie shared, referring to Bingham’s three children from his previous marriage to Anna Axster.
“It was a particularly special moment for me, as I got to express to them just how much they mean to me and what an honor it has been to become a bonus mom to them.”
The couple wrapped up their magical evening with a send off in Cadillac Coupe Deville before heading back around to re-join the festivities.
“Despite what appeared to be this magical car ride into the night, we actually just took a quick circle around the block before ultimately slipping back into the house to join the rest of our wedding party as the last ones standing,” she recalled.
“We kept the celebration going into the wee hours, dancing in my family’s living room. It was the perfect ending to a perfect night — and honestly, we couldn’t have imagined it any better.”
We wish a future full of nothing but love and happiness for this special couple!