Michelle Branch filed for divorce from Teddy Landau on February 9th, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple has a 9 year old child together, Owen Isabelle. Several years ago, the singer told People magazine that her marriage got off to a rocky start. Branch also said her father never wanted her to be with a musician, and he was never comfortable with the couple’s age difference. Branch is 31 years old, and Landau is 50 years old.
Branch has released three studio albums as a solo artist including Broken Bracelet, The Spirit Room, and Hotel Paper. Her latest project, Everything Comes and Goes, was released as an EP in 2010. The double-platinum selling The Spirit Room was a commercial success in 2001, and featured the songs “Everywhere,” “All You Wanted,” and “Goodbye to You.” Branch’s Hotel Paper debuted at Number 2 on the Billboard 200, and it eventually sold over one million copies. The album’s biggest hit “Are You Happy Now,” reached the Number 3 position on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart. The record was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Rock Performance.
After putting out two projects in the pop-rock genre, Branch decided to form a country duo, the Wreckers, with Jessica Harp. The duo only released one studio album entitled Stand Still, Look Pretty, which was a surprise success in country music. The project went Gold in the US, and it produced two hit singles including “Leave the Pieces” and “My, Oh My.” “Leave the Pieces” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group Vocal. While most people were anticipating a follow-up album to Stand Still, Look Pretty, the Wreckers disbanded in 2007 in order to pursue solo careers. Branch said the duo never planned on breaking up, but all of a sudden they decided to go their separate ways. Before they disbanded, the duo was working on material for their new album. During an interview, the singer said her Everything Comes and Goes EP was actually material that was supposed to be on the Wreckers sophomore album.
After dealing with unforeseen record label issues in Nashville, including not putting out a solo country project, Branch moved back to Los Angeles. The singer decided to return to pop music in 2011, after her short stint as a solo country music artist was unsuccessful. She was supposed to release the pop-rock album West Coast Time in 2012, but the project was never released. Branch told Rolling Stone magazine that West Coast Time was a more mature version of her second album The Spirit Room. Since her departure as a country artist several years ago, Branch has returned to making country music. She is expected to release a project some time in the near future.