Kirk Herbstreit reflects on Brett James: ‘He was a legend’

Tragic Loss of Songwriter Brett James in Plane Crash

Country music enthusiasts are mourning the untimely death of songwriter Brett James, who passed away in a plane crash in North Carolina. Official reports confirmed his age as 57. James is remembered for his significant contributions to the industry, including Carrie Underwood’s popular song “Yes, Take the Wheel.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) detailed in a preliminary report that a small aircraft crashed “under unknown circumstances” in a wooded area near Franklin on Thursday afternoon. Unfortunately, no one survived, as per the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

According to FAA records, James was listed as the registrant of the Cirrus SR22T. It’s uncertain whether he was piloting the plane at the time of the crash. The Highway Patrol has confirmed his passing.

Kirk Herb Strait, a prominent analyst at ESPN College Football, expressed his sadness over the incident. He spoke highly of James, describing him as an extraordinary individual and a true talent. “When I got the news about Brett during a game, it hit hard. Living in Nashville, I was fortunate to meet so many incredible people, and Brett was definitely one of them,” he shared on social media.

The flight was reportedly originating from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville. An investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board is underway to determine the cause of the accident.

James was honored by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020, and the organization released a statement expressing their sorrow over his passing.

Herb Strait recalled that James performed at his birthday celebration on a previous occasion. He expressed heartbreak over the loss, highlighting James’ legendary status in Nashville’s songwriting community.

Throughout his career, James wrote over 500 songs, contributing to over 110 million record sales. His work has been recorded by notable artists like Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, and Keith Urban.

Country singer Jason Aldean also took to social media to express his condolences, noting the deep impact James had on his life. “It hurts to hear of the loss of my friend Brett,” Aldean said.