Brett James, a Grammy-winning country music songwriter, tragically died in a plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday. He was particularly celebrated for penning Carrie Underwood’s hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
At 57 years old, James was one of three individuals aboard a single-engine Cirrus SR22T that took off from Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport.
This incident occurred near Macon County Airport, which is encircled by fields.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported among the students and staff at a nearby school.
James had a prominent career during the 2000s and early 2010s, crafting songs for various well-known artists, including Brantley Gilbert’s “Bottoms Up,” Rascal Flatts’s “Summer Nights,” and collaborations with Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, and Underwood.
He achieved a remarkable total of 27 number one hits on country radio. Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel” won Best Country Song at the 49th Grammy Awards in 2007 and received a nomination for Song of the Year.
In 2020, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also wrote Dierks Bentley’s hit “I Hold On,” released in 2013.
Following the news of James’s death, Bentley shared his thoughts, calling him “a complete legend.” He expressed that James was not just an exceptional songwriter but a fellow aviator, and he reflected fondly on their collaborations.
Bentley recalled sharing personal ideas with James after a family loss, noting how James transformed those thoughts into something profound. The chorus of their song, he mentioned, carried deep significance for him and his family.
