Brett James, the Grammy-winning songwriter behind Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and Kenny Chesney’s “When the Sun Goes Down,” died at the age of 57 in a small-engine plane crash near Franklin, North Carolina on Thursday (September 18). One of three passengers on board the Cirrus SR22T, James’ death is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. A Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and two-time ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year, James (real name Brett Cornelius) wrote numerous hits for top country artists including Billy Ray Cyrus, Martina McBride, and Rascal Flatts, with Jessica Andrews’ 2001 tune, “Who I Am,” becoming his first country chart-topper. “Jesus, Take the Wheel” earned James a 2006 Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as the 2005 ACM Single of the Year and the 2006 ASCAP Country Song of the Year. Underwood paid tribute to James with an emotional Instagram post: “The loss of Brett James to his family, friends and our music community is too great to put into words. Brett’s passing is leaving a hole in all of us that I fear won’t ever go away.” (Variety)
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