Acclaimed American songwriter Brett James, best known for co-writing the Grammy-winning hit Jesus, Take the Wheel, has tragically died in a plane crash in North Carolina. He was 57.
James was one of three people aboard a single-engine Cirrus SR22T that crashed near Macon County Airport under unknown circumstances. All passengers on board were killed. The flight had taken off from Nashville, Tennessee.
With over 500 songs written across genres, James was a major force in the music industry. His work spanned collaborations with artists like Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi, and Jason Aldean.
Carrie Underwood, who recorded Jesus, Take the Wheel, expressed deep grief, calling his death “unfathomable” and describing James as “the epitome of cool.” Jason Aldean also paid tribute, saying James “helped change my life.”
Paul Williams, president of ASCAP, called James “a songwriting force of nature” with “an even bigger heart.” James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020 and was a two-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
