Grammy Award-winning country music songwriter Brett James, known for penning hits like "Jesus Take the Wheel," perished in a plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday.
According to the New York Post, James, 57, was one of three people killed when a single-engine Cirrus SR22T aircraft crashed into an open field near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, NC. The plane had departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville before the tragic incident occurred shortly before 3 p.m.
Flight records revealed the 2016 aircraft was registered to James under his real name, Brett Cornelius, out of Brentwood, Tennessee. The identities of the other two victims have not yet been disclosed.
Respected Nashville Songwriting Legend Lost
The crash site was adjacent to Macon County Airport, but fortunately, no students or staff at the nearby elementary school were injured in the incident.
First responders were seen covering the white aircraft with a tarp after it became lodged in the ground, as footage from local news outlets documented the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the cause of the crash.
James had been scheduled to take off from Nashville at 1:15 p.m. but didn't depart until after 1:40 p.m. for the 250-mile flight. The plane went down in the field less than an hour and a half after takeoff.
From Medical School to Music Stardom
James initially attended medical school before abandoning that path halfway through to pursue his passion for music in Nashville.
He signed a record deal with Career Records in 1992 and released a self-titled album in 1995, eventually charting five singles on Billboard's country chart over an eight-year period. James later shifted his focus to songwriting, where he found his true calling and achieved remarkable success writing for artists like Billy Ray Cyrus, Kenny Chesney, and Martina McBride.
His songwriting career flourished as he created numerous chart-topping hits including Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel," Taylor Swift's "A Perfectly Good Heart," and Rascal Flatts' "Summer Nights." James wrote a total of 27 number-one hits on country radio and collaborated with numerous stars including Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, and Bon Jovi.
Tributes Pour In From Country Music Community
Country star Dierks Bentley, who worked closely with James on his hit "I Hold On," shared a heartfelt tribute on social media following the news of James' death.
"Rest in peace pal," Bentley wrote, describing James as a "total stud" and "fellow aviator" who was "one of the best singer-songwriters in our town...total legend." Bentley explained how James had helped him craft "I Hold On" after his father's death, noting that the chorus was entirely James' creation and that their friendship and collaboration on that song had changed his life.
James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020, cementing his legacy as one of country music's most influential songwriters. His final social media post showed him celebrating Father's Day with his wife and children.
Legacy of Musical Excellence Remembered
James' journey from medical student to Nashville songwriting legend exemplifies his remarkable talent and dedication to country music.
His impressive catalog of 27 number-one hits established him as one of the genre's most successful songwriters of the 2000s and early 2010s. The loss of James has deeply affected the country music community, with many artists and industry professionals expressing their grief and sharing memories of his impact on their careers and lives.
James leaves behind a musical legacy that spans decades and includes some of country music's most beloved songs, ensuring his influence will continue to be felt throughout the industry for years to come.
