Brett James, a Grammy-winning songwriter known for writing hits like Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” died in a small plane crash on Thursday, according to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. I was 57.
A plane, registered in his name, allegedly crashed in a field in Franklin, North Carolina, about 435 km southeast of Nashville around 3 p.m. local time Thursday, according to data from FlightAware and an FAA statement.
The plane left John C Tune Airport in Nashville, according to FlightAware. She crashed in a field near Iotla Valley Elementary School, CNN affiliate WLOS reported.
“The students and staff are safe. There was a plane crash on the neighboring property. We reiterate that all students and staff are safe,” the Macon County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post.
Three people were on board the plane, according to the FAA, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating what happened.
James, who worked with megastars like Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, and Keith Urban, won a Grammy for Best Country Song in 2006 for co-writing “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” He also wrote Kenny Chesney’s “Out Last Night” and was considered one of the industry’s most sought-after collaborators.
More than 500 of his songs have appeared on albums with combined sales of more than 110 million copies, according to the Nashville International Association of Composers.
In 2020, James was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also owned the Cornman Music publishing house and was on the board of the Country Music Association and was a national trustee of The Recording Academy, according to the Nashville Symphony.
“Brett was a trusted contributor to the biggest names in country, and a true advocate for his fellow songwriters,” the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said in an Instagram post in announcing James’ death.
“Rest in peace, my friend. A real crack. Fellow aviator. One of the best singer-songwriters in our city … a total legend,” country musician Dierks Bentley wrote on Instagram.
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