Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James died Thursday in a plane crash in North Carolina.
James, 57, was among three people killed when the aircraft went down near Franklin.
The Crash
James was flying in a Cirrus SR22T single-engine aircraft.
The plane departed Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport shortly after 1:40 p.m.
It was scheduled for a 250-mile trip but crashed before reaching its destination.
The crash site was near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin.
No students or staff were injured as the wreckage fell into an open field.
Footage showed the white aircraft lodged in the ground with a tarp covering it.
The FAA and NTSB confirmed they are investigating the cause of the crash.
Victims
All three on board the plane were killed.
The other two victims have not yet been identified publicly.
Records showed the aircraft was registered to Brett James under his legal name.
Brett James
He resided in Brentwood, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville.
Authorities confirmed the crash happened shortly before 3 p.m.
First responders arrived quickly to secure the scene.
Music Career
James began his career after leaving medical school to pursue music.
He signed with Career Records in 1992 and released a solo album in 1995.
He charted five singles on Billboard’s country chart between 1995 and 2003.
James later turned to songwriting full-time, where he found major success.
He wrote hits for Billy Ray Cyrus, Kenny Chesney, and Martina McBride.
His breakout came with Carrie Underwood’s smash single “Jesus Take the Wheel.”
Songwriting Legacy
James wrote 27 number-one hits on country radio.
His credits include Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights” and Brantley Gilbert’s “Bottoms Up.”
He co-wrote Taylor Swift’s “A Perfectly Good Heart” early in her career.
He also penned Dierks Bentley’s “I Hold On” in 2013.
James collaborated with major stars like Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, and Bon Jovi.
He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.
Tributes
Country star Dierks Bentley mourned James on Thursday night.
He called him “a total legend” and “one of the best singer-songwriters in our town.”
Bentley credited James for shaping the chorus of “I Hold On.”
He said their collaboration changed his life and deepened their friendship.
James’ final social media post showed him with his wife Sandra and their children.
Fans and artists alike are remembering him as one of Nashville’s finest songwriters.
