Country music songwriter Brett James died tragically in a plane crash on Sept. 18 at the age of 57. James was a notable songwriter throughout the mid-2000s and early 2010s, making his own music in the late 90s with a comeback in 2020. James passed away in the crash alongside his wife, Melody Carole, and stepdaughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson; he was the pilot of the plane.
The Cirrus SR22T, registered to James, departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, TN, at 12:41 p.m., bound for Macon County Airport in Franklin, NC. The plane crashed shortly before 3 p.m. in a field in Franklin, NC, a few hundred feet from an elementary school and just three nautical miles from the intended destination.
Despite calm winds and clear skies, it is unknown what caused the compact plane to crash. It is also unknown if James made a distress call. What is known is that the aircraft was largely intact and not consumed by flames following the crash. This will make determining the cause of the crash for the National Transportation Safety Board significantly easier.
James has written hits for many artists, such as Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Daughtry, and Jason Aldean. His co-written hit song “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” written for Carrie Underwood, won best country song at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2007.
James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020 and has had 27 number one songs spanning his three-decade-long career. Many artists posted tributes on their social media, such as Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, and Mitchell Tenpenny. Underwood eulogized him on her Instagram, recounting memories with the writer over the years. Bentley wrote a massive thank you to James for his work on his song “I Hold On” about the passing of Bentley’s father.
James and his wife recently tied the knot in August 2021, only spending four years married before the crash. His stepdaughter celebrated her 28th birthday a day prior to the crash. He is survived by his first wife, Sandra Cornelius-Little, his three sons, and one daughter.
