NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Grief has swept through Music City as the news sinks in: Brett James, the Grammy-winning songwriter behind some of country music’s most beloved hits, has died in a plane crash in North Carolina. He was just 57 years old.
The tragedy claimed not only James’ life but also shook the very foundation of Nashville’s songwriting community. Known as much for his warmth and humility as for his remarkable talent, Brett James was more than a hitmaker. He was a husband, a father, and a man of faith whose words and melodies became part of America’s soundtrack.
The Crash That Shook Nashville
The accident occurred on September 18, 2025, when James’ Cirrus SR22T aircraft went down in a field near Franklin, North Carolina, just short of the runway at Macon County Airport. Two other passengers were also killed. According to flight data, the plane’s last recorded speed was 83 miles per hour before disappearing from radar at 2:56 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, but for Nashville, the cause matters less than the loss. Within hours of the crash, tributes began pouring in from across the country music world.
An Unsung Hero Behind the Curtain
Though his name was not always on marquees, Brett James’ songs were the lifeblood of modern country music. He penned more than 27 No. 1 hits, including:
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“Jesus, Take the Wheel” (Carrie Underwood)
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“Who I Am” (Jessica Andrews)
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“Blessed” (Martina McBride)
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“When the Sun Goes Down” (Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker)
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“The Truth” (Jason Aldean)
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“Cowboy Casanova” (Carrie Underwood)
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“It’s America” (Rodney Atkins)
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“The Man I Want to Be” (Chris Young)
His words didn’t just top charts—they comforted, inspired, and became woven into the lives of millions.
Twice, in 2006 and 2010, James was honored as ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year. His reach went beyond country, with cuts recorded by Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi, the Backstreet Boys, and Paulina Rubio.
“Jesus, Take the Wheel” — A Song That Became a Prayer
The song that defined his career—and in many ways, Carrie Underwood’s—was the 2006 ballad “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” Co-written with Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson, it became a multi-platinum smash and a two-time Grammy winner. But more importantly, it became a modern hymn, sung in hospital rooms, churches, and living rooms across America.
“Brett loved the Lord,” Underwood said in a statement following his death. “Which is the only comfort we can hold on to now.”
Her words echoed across Nashville, where artists and fans alike remembered James not only for his songs but for his unshakable faith.
From Medicine to Music
Born Brett James Cornelius in Columbia, Missouri, on June 5, 1968, he grew up the son of a physician and seemed destined to follow that path. He earned his degree from Baylor University and entered medical school at the University of Oklahoma. But music called louder than medicine.
By the mid-1990s, James had signed with Career Records, releasing a self-titled debut album. Though his own recording career was short-lived, a modest publishing deal with producer Mark Bright in 1998 set him on a new trajectory. James promised to write one song every three days, a discipline that forged his reputation as one of Nashville’s most dependable and gifted craftsmen.
A Family Man at Heart
Though his professional success was immense, those who knew him best say his greatest pride was not in awards or record sales but in his family. A devoted husband and father, he often spoke of home as the place where he found his grounding, even as the music industry demanded so much of him.
“Brett’s songs gave us joy,” one close friend said. “But his family gave him life.”
Nashville Weeps
The outpouring of grief has been swift and deep. Kenny Chesney called James “a songwriter who could take your life and make it sound like a song you’d known forever.” Jason Aldean said he was “a mentor, a friend, and a light in this town.” Martina McBride remembered him as “a man who could turn blessings into lyrics.”
On Friday evening, fans gathered outside the Bluebird Café with candles and guitars, singing “Jesus, Take the Wheel” as a collective prayer. For many, it was not just mourning—it was gratitude for the man who gave them words when they had none.
The Final Note
Brett James’ sudden passing leaves a silence that Nashville will struggle to fill. Yet his songs remain—a legacy of faith, hope, and honesty that will echo for generations.
As the city grieves, one line lingers in the air, written years ago by a man who believed in surrender: “Take it from my hands, ‘cause I can’t do this on my own.”
Now, the man who wrote those words has been carried home.