Brett James, Grammy-Winning Songwriter, Dead at 57
Grammy Award-winning songwriter Brett James, whose prolific career included penning hits for Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, and a wide array of country and pop stars, died in a plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday. He was 57.
Details of the Crash
The small Cirrus SR22T aircraft, registered to James under his legal name Brett James Cornelius, went down in the woods near Franklin, North Carolina, according to a preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The plane had departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville earlier that day.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed that there were no survivors among the three people aboard. Alongside James, the victims were identified as Melody Carole and Meryl Maxwell Wilson. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether James was piloting the aircraft. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
A Celebrated Career in Songwriting
Born in Oklahoma City, James originally pursued a career in medicine before leaving medical school to follow his passion for music in Nashville. That decision led to a remarkable career spanning more than two decades.
James earned his first No. 1 hit in 2001 with “Who I Am,” performed by Jessica Andrews. He went on to co-write Carrie Underwood’s breakout single “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” which won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Country Song and cemented his status as one of Nashville’s top songwriters.
Over the years, more than 500 of James’ songs were recorded, contributing to albums with combined sales exceeding 110 million copies, according to his biography on the Grand Ole Opry’s website. His catalog of hits included “When the Sun Goes Down” and “Out Last Night” by Kenny Chesney, “Cowboy Casanova” by Carrie Underwood, “Summer Nights” by Rascal Flatts, and numerous others performed by artists such as Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, and Meghan Trainor.
James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020, where he was celebrated for his wide-ranging influence and ability to craft both heartfelt ballads and stadium anthems.
Tributes From the Country Music Community
The news of his passing drew tributes from across the music industry. Country singer Jason Aldean posted on X, formerly Twitter, “Heartbroken to hear of the loss of my friend Brett James tonight. I had nothing but love and respect for that guy and he helped change my life. Honored to have met him and worked with him.”
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame also issued a statement expressing sorrow over James’ death, noting his extraordinary contributions to American songwriting and his enduring impact on country music.
Later Work and Personal Reflections
In addition to writing for others, James recorded his own solo album in 2020. Reflecting on that project, he told the Grand Ole Opry that he wanted to capture themes that felt timeless rather than trendy. “At my stage in life, I’m not going to write about driving around in pickup trucks, chasing girls,” he said. “It needed to feel more classic, lyrically. They all wound up being love songs, but hopefully love songs with a twist, that haven’t all been written before.”
A Lasting Legacy
Brett James’ artistry bridged the worlds of country and pop, creating songs that resonated with audiences across generations. His ability to capture universal themes of love, heartbreak, and joy made him one of the most recorded songwriters of his era.
As the investigation into the plane crash continues, the music world is left mourning not only a Grammy-winning songwriter but also a mentor, collaborator, and friend whose words and melodies will live on.
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