Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, celebrated for penning Carrie Underwood’s 2006 hit “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” tragically died in a plane crash near Franklin, North Carolina, authorities confirmed Friday. The crash also claimed the lives of Melody Carole and Meryl Maxwell Wilson, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.
The plane, registered as N218VB, was owned by James, whose full name was Brett James Cornelius. Tributes poured in from the music community, with the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame — which inducted James in 2020 — expressing deep sorrow. Country star Dierks Bentley called him “one of the best singer-songwriters in our town,” noting that their collaboration on “I Hold On” profoundly impacted his career.
James wrote hits for a glittering roster of country stars, including Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, and Jessica Andrews, whose song “Who I Am” became his first number-one country hit in 2001. His talents also crossed into pop and rock, with artists such as Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson, and the Backstreet Boys recording his work.
Born in Oklahoma City, James initially pursued medical school but left to follow his passion for music. After a slow start in the industry, he briefly returned to school in 1999. Reflecting on his career, he told PBS’s “The Songwriters,” the dean encouraged him to follow his dream but warned, “you can’t ever come back.” He recalled, “I thought I was quitting the business. But then Faith Hill recorded my song ‘Love is a Sweet Thing.’ Then I started placing a lot of songs. It was pretty bizarre.”
Over the course of his career, James achieved what he once considered impossible. “At one time, my wildest dream would have been for 10 versions of my songs to be recorded,” he said. “But that year I had thirty-three.”
James’s legacy as a prolific, genre-spanning songwriter leaves an indelible mark on country music and beyond, remembered not just for his hits but for his enduring influence on fellow artists and fans alike.
