Brett James, the Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter who penned some of country music's biggest hits, was killed in a small plane crash in North Carolina. The accident left no survivors, taking the lives of two others on the single-engine plane with the 57-year-old musician.
Authorities confirmed that James, whose full name was Brett James Cornelius, was one of three victims aboard a Cirrus SR22T aircraft that went down near Franklin, a town in Macon County. The crash occurred shortly after the plane departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, and was headed to Jackson County Airport in Sylva, North Carolina.
The accident happened mid-afternoon when the aircraft went down in a field close to Iotla Valley Elementary School, just north of Franklin. No one on the ground was injured. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash. Officials have not confirmed whether James was piloting the aircraft at the time.
The other two victims were identified as Melody Carole and her daughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson. Both were close friends of James. Witnesses reported hearing the sound of the crash before seeing smoke rise from the site. Investigators are analyzing the wreckage to determine what led to the accident.
Over James' decades-long career, he built a reputation as one of country music's most versatile and successful songwriters. His catalog includes more than 500 recorded songs, contributing to albums that together sold more than 110 million copies worldwide.
He was best known for co-writing Carrie Underwood's breakout single "Jesus, Take the Wheel", which won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2006. He also penned hits such as "When the Sun Goes Down" for Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker, as well as "The Truth" for Jason Aldean.
Beyond country, James's work ventured into other genres, with his songs recorded by artists including Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi, and Martina McBride. His success brought him repeated recognition from ASCAP, where he was named Country Songwriter of the Year multiple times. In 2020, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, cementing his place among the most influential voices behind the scenes of country music.
News of his passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow songwriters and performers. "Brett's passing is leaving a hole in all of us that I fear won't ever go away," Carrie Underwood wrote in a message shared on social media. "I'm asking all of you to pray for his family, friends and all of us that were blessed enough to know Brett."
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