A distinguished Christian songwriter, known for co-writing the Grammy-winning hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” was amongst three people killed in a small aircraft crash in North Carolina. His wife and stepdaughter also died within the crash.
Brett James, who co-wrote Carrie Underwood’s song, was identified as considered one of the victims of the crash, which occurred around 3 p.m. last Thursday in Franklin. The aircraft, a Cirrus SR22T registered under James’ legal name, Brett James Cornelius, went down in a field adjoining to Macon County Airport, Fox4 reported.
James, 57, had been piloting the plane, which took off from Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport.
His wife, Melody Carole Wilson, and stepdaughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson, were also on board and died.
The crash site was positioned near Iotla Valley Elementary School. Students and staff at the varsity were unharmed, ABC News reported.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, an investigator visited the scene Friday to look at the wreckage, which was scheduled for removal the next day for further evaluation.
The reason for the crash stays undetermined.
James had an intensive songwriting profession in Nashville that spanned greater than 20 years. He wrote or co-wrote over 500 songs recorded by artists reminiscent of Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney.
His song “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” co-written with Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson, won the Grammy Award for best country song in 2007 and was named ASCAP’s Country Song of the Year in 2006, the Los Angeles Times noted.
He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. He also received ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year honor in each 2006 and 2010.
James’ writing credits include: Martina McBride’s “Blessed,” Kenny Chesney’s “Out Last Night,” Carrie Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova,” Rodney Atkins’ “It’s America,” and Uncle Kracker’s duet with Chesney, “When the Sun Goes Down.” He also co-wrote Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights” and “Love You Out Loud.”
Born on June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri, James began his musical journey within the early Nineties after leaving medical school. Though he initially signed a solo cope with Career Records, a division of Arista Nashville, he soon shifted focus to songwriting.
Singer, songwriter and actress Carrie Underwood expressed grief over the lack of her longtime collaborator in a tribute on Instagram. She wrote that James’ death was “unfathomable,” adding, “Each day is a present … Love you, man. I’ll see you again someday.”
Rascal Flatts described James as “a superb songwriter and amazing man,” stating in an Instagram post that he “might be greatly missed.”
Country singer Jason Aldean, who collaborated with James on the song “The Truth,” honored him during a show in Lincoln, Nebraska. “He helped change my life,” Aldean said in a social media post of the performance.
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