Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, known for co-writing Carrie Underwood's hit 'Jesus, Take the Wheel', died in a plane crash on Thursday alongside his wife and stepdaughter. The Cirrus SR22T aircraft crashed 'under unknown circumstances' in a wooded area of Franklin, North Carolina, after taking off from John C Tune airport in Nashville, Tennessee.
James, 57, was flying with his wife Melody Carole and stepdaughter Meryl Maxwell Wilson, both of whom also died in the crash. The aircraft was registered under James' legal name, Brett Cornelius. It remains unclear whether James was piloting the plane at the time of the incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, which inducted James in 2020, expressed grief over his death, with executive director Mark Ford describing him as 'a kind, giving, delightful soul' and lamenting the songs he had left to write.
James, originally from Oklahoma City, left medical school to pursue music in Nashville. He co-wrote over 500 songs recorded by artists including Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Luke Bryan, and Keith Urban, with combined album sales exceeding 110 million copies. His song 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' won the Grammy for Best Country Song in 2006.
Carrie Underwood mourned James on Instagram, calling his loss 'unfathomable' and saying it leaves 'a hole in all of us'. Country singer Jason Aldean also paid tribute on X, writing he was 'heartbroken' and that James 'helped change my life'.
