BREAKING: Grammy-Winning Songwriter Brett James Dies in Tragic Plane Crash at 57
James was a co-writer on Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
Brett James; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Grammy-winning songwriter and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Brett James has died in a tragic plane crash, according to multiple sources.
According to WLOS, a small plane went down in Macon County near Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. EST on Thursday, September 18. Authorities confirmed that none of the three passengers on board survived. The FAA reports that the aircraft was registered to Brett Cornelius of Brentwood, Tennessee.
Records show that the plane had departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville before the crash.
Brett James was born on June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri. He initially intended to pursue a medical degree, but midway through medical school, he left college to follow his passion for music. He was signed to Arista Nashville’s imprint Career Records as a solo artist and released his solo album in 1995.
He found great success as a songwriter and is credited for writing hundreds of songs, including major cuts by Carrie Underwood (“Jesus, Take The Wheel”, “Cowboy Casanova”), “Kenny Chesney (“When The Sun Goes Down”, “Out Last Night,” “Keg In the Closet”), Dierks Bentley (“I Hold On”), Jason Aldean (“The Truth”), and Rascal Flatts (“Summer Nights”).
He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. That night, Carrie Underwood, Gordie Sampson and Hillary Lindsey took the stage to honor him with a touching performance of “Jesus Take the Wheel” which earned the 2006 GRAMMY for Best Country Song and 2005 ACM Single of the Year trophy.
He called his induction “truly the greatest honor of my life.”
As news of his tragic passing spread, artists and friends began sharing heartfelt condolences on social media, with Sara Evans among the first to post.
“I am absolutely devastated at the loss of one of the best writers I’ve ever written with and recorded several of his songs. Brett James. I’m praying for his loved ones. What a tragic and sad day. He will be so missed.”
Chris Blair, owner of Nashville’s The Listening Room Cafe, shared the heartbreaking news, admitting “Nashville won’t be same without you in it, Brett James.”
Fellow songwriter Jessi Alexander shared, “So many fun nights on stage we shared and memories we made traveling around making music together. He lived large and always made me feel special. Music Row will never be the same.”
Brett James was a beloved member of the Nashville music community, and his passing is a tremendous loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all who loved him.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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