Brett James, GRAMMY-Winning Songwriter, Dies in North Carolina Plane Crash at 57

Nashville is mourning the loss of Brett James, one of its most prolific and beloved songwriters, who died Thursday, September 18, 2025, in a plane crash in Franklin, North Carolina. He was 57.

According to the FAA, a Cirrus SR22T aircraft carrying three passengers went down around 3 p.m. local time near Iotla Valley Elementary School, close to the Macon County Airport.

All three passengers, including James, perished in the crash. Investigations by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are underway.

A Career Redirected by Passion

Born Brett Cornelius on June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri, James originally set out to become a doctor, attending medical school at the University of Oklahoma. But midway through, he felt a stronger pull toward music.

Trusting that calling, he left medicine behind and chased a dream that would make him one of the defining voices behind modern country music’s biggest hits.

By 1995, he had signed to Arista Nashville’s Career Records and released a self-titled debut album. While his time as a solo artist was short-lived, it opened the door to what would become his true legacy: songwriting.

Songs That Shaped a Generation

Over the next three decades, James would pen over 800 songs recorded by major artists, spanning country, pop, and rock. His catalog reads like a soundtrack to 2000s and 2010s country radio:

“Jesus, Take the Wheel” – Carrie Underwood

“Cowboy Casanova” – Carrie Underwood

“When The Sun Goes Down” – Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker

“I Hold On” – Dierks Bentley

“The Truth” – Jason Aldean

“Summer Nights” – Rascal Flatts

His first No. 1 came in 2001 with Jessica Andrews’ “Who I Am.” From there, his career only accelerated, with 25+ chart-topping singles and cuts by Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi, Steven Tyler, Florida Georgia Line, The Backstreet Boys, and many others.

In 2007, James won a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Song for “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” cementing his place among Nashville’s most accomplished songwriters.

A Leader and Mentor

Beyond the hits, Brett James was known for shaping the industry itself. He served for 18 years on the CMA Board of Directors, was a national trustee for The Recording Academy, and sat on the board of the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

He also built opportunities for others through Cornman Music, his boutique Nashville publishing company, nurturing the next generation of songwriters and artists.

Tributes from Nashville

Carrie Underwood, who worked closely with James on some of her defining hits, shared an emotional tribute:

“Brett James gave me one of the greatest gifts of my career with ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel.’ But more than that, he was a kind, generous, and brilliant soul. Nashville lost a giant today, and I lost a dear friend.”

Jason Aldean called him “a songwriter who made us all better,” while Dierks Bentley praised James’ ability to “write songs that carried both truth and hope.”

A Lasting Legacy

For all his awards and accolades, Brett James often downplayed the spotlight, preferring instead to let the music speak. His songs carried stories of faith, heartbreak, joy, and resilience — stories that will continue to live on long after his untimely passing.

At 57, he leaves behind not just an extraordinary catalog of music, but also a legacy of service, mentorship, and inspiration.

Brett James once said that writing songs was “like planting seeds — you never know which will grow.” By that measure, his fields will bloom for generations to come.