Nashville songwriter Brett James, a Grammy-winning hitmaker known for penning some of country music’s most celebrated songs, died Thursday in a plane crash in North Carolina. He was 57.

The musician, whose full name was Brett James Cornelius, was one of three people aboard a Cirrus SR22T aircraft that went down west of Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. local time on Sept. 18. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that there were no survivors and said it will investigate the incident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board.

Flight records indicate that the plane, owned by James, departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville shortly before the crash. Authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Macon County Sheriff’s Office.

James was widely celebrated in the music community for his work as a songwriter and collaborator with some of country music’s biggest names. In 2020, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, which paid tribute to him on social media, calling him “a trusted collaborator to country’s greatest names, and a true advocate for his fellow songwriters.”

Among his most notable contributions to the genre was co-writing Carrie Underwood’s chart-topping hit “Jesus Take the Wheel,” cementing his reputation as one of the industry’s leading voices behind the scenes.

The loss of Brett James marks a tragic moment for Nashville and the broader country music community, leaving behind a legacy of songs that have shaped the sound and storytelling of modern country music.

Two-Time Country Songwriter of the Year Brett James Dies in North Carolina Plane Crash

Brett James, the two-time Country Songwriter of the Year and Grammy-winning hitmaker behind some of country music’s biggest songs, has died at 57 in a plane crash in North Carolina. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announced his passing, describing James as “a trusted collaborator to country’s greatest names, and a true advocate for his fellow songwriters. Brett, your ASCAP family misses you dearly. Thank you for your unforgettable music,” in an Instagram post.

The Macon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a plane went down near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, N.C., on Sept. 18. In a statement to Facebook, the sheriff’s office reassured the community: “To the parents that have children that attend Iotla school. The students, and staff are safe. There was an airplane accident on the neighboring property. Again, all students and staff are safe.”

James was born Brett James Cornelius on June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri. Initially pursuing a medical career, he left college to follow his passion for music, eventually signing with Arista Nashville’s Career Records as a solo artist and releasing his debut album in 1995.

Over his career, James wrote hits for some of country music’s most celebrated artists, including Carrie Underwood (“Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Cowboy Casanova”), Kenny Chesney (“When the Sun Goes Down,” “Out Last Night,” “Keg in the Closet”), Dierks Bentley (“I Hold On”), Jason Aldean (“The Truth”), and Rascal Flatts (“Summer Nights”).

Bentley paid tribute to James on Instagram, recalling their collaboration on “I Hold On”: “When I sing that song live, I’m always thinking of my dad, but I also think about that day we wrote it. He just got it, just lit into it. It was one of the first times we wrote, and I decided to drop the most meaningful and necessary idea of a song I had on him because I felt like God was telling me to do so. Our friendship and that song changed my life.  Prayers for his family.”

One of James’ last social media posts showed a joyful gathering of friends and family on a backyard deck, captioned: “Such an amazing Father’s Day!!” He is survived by his adult children, whom he shared with his ex-wife, Sandra Cornelius-Little.

James’ death marks a significant loss for Nashville and the broader country music community, where his songwriting shaped the careers of numerous artists and left an indelible mark on the genre.