The country music world mourns the loss of Brett James, a Grammy-winning songwriter best known for penning Carrie Underwood's iconic hit "Jesus, Take the Wheel." James, 57, tragically died on Thursday, September 18th, in a plane crash in North Carolina. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, where James was inducted in 2020, confirmed the devastating news.
Local reports indicate that the small-engine plane, a Cirrus SR22T, crashed west of Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. local time. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed there were no survivors among the three people on board. Thankfully, no students or staff at the school were injured. Flight records show the plane, owned by James under his legal name Brett Cornelius, departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville.
Tributes poured in from fellow musicians and collaborators. Dierks Bentley, who co-wrote the hit "I Hold On" with James, shared a heartfelt Instagram post, remembering James as a "total stud, fellow aviator, and one of the best singer-songwriters in our town… a total legend." The impact of James' songwriting extended far beyond this single collaboration.
"Jesus, Take the Wheel," co-written with Hillary Lindsay and Gordie Sampson, became Underwood's first of 15 No. 1 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in early 2006, spending six weeks at the top and reaching the pop Top 20. The song's success earned James and his co-writers two Grammys, including Best Country Song and a nomination for Song of the Year. His impressive catalogue also includes hits such as Martina McBride's "Blessed," Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker's "When the Sun Goes Down," Jason Aldean's "The Truth," and Scotty McCreery's debut single, "I Love You This Big."
Taylor Swift also collaborated with James, co-writing "A Perfectly Good Heart" for her debut album. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) released a statement acknowledging James' significant contributions to country music, highlighting his collaborative spirit and dedication to fellow songwriters. James, born June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri, is survived by his wife, Sandra Cornelius, and their four children. His legacy as a gifted songwriter and talented collaborator will undoubtedly continue to resonate within the country music community for generations to come.
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Originally published at: https://deadline.com/2025/09/brett-james-dead-1236549242/
