Nashville Hit Songwriter Brett James Dies In Tragic Plane Crash

The country music world is in mourning after the loss of Brett James, the Grammy‑winning songwriter whose body of work helped shape the modern sound of Nashville. He tragically died in a small‑engine airplane crash near Franklin, North Carolina. He was 57. 

James’ songwriting legacy is nothing short of monumental. Over the decades, he wrote or co‑wrote dozens of chart‑toppers, including hits like Jesus, Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood, When the Sun Goes Down and Out Last Night by Kenny Chesney, The Truth by Jason Aldean, and Blessed by Martina McBride. His work spanned not just country radio hits but songs that resonated with millions. 

Details about the crash are still under investigation. The aircraft was registered to James, and all three people aboard perished. Authorities from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are looking into what happened.

Born in Columbia, Missouri on June 5, 1968, James moved through Nashville’s songwriting circles, staying true to the art even when the spotlight for his own recordings dimmed. In earlier years, he released a self‑titled debut album in 1995 with Career Records (Arista Nashville) before ultimately finding his greatest impact as a writer and producer. His songs were recorded by artists across country and pop, some albums selling millions; he earned multiple Number One singles.

Peers and fans took to social media immediately to express heartbreak and gratitude. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, in which James was inducted in 2020, shared its official mourning: “We mourn the untimely loss of Hall of Fame member Brett James (‘Jesus Take The Wheel’ / ‘When The Sun Goes Down’), a 2020 inductee who was killed in a small‑engine airplane crash on Sept. 18. He was 57.” 

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James’ gifts as a storyteller, lyricist, and producer leave a void that will be felt for generations. But the songs, the chords, and the honest vulnerability he brought to music will endure. In a world that often values fame, Brett James was a songwriter’s songwriter — someone who understood that true impact isn’t always on stage, but in what people carry with them long after the music fades.

Some of Brett James’ Most Iconic Cuts:

Bottoms Up - Brantley Gilbert

Cowboy Casanova - Carrie Underwood

Here I Am - Leona Lewis

I Hold On - Dierks Bentley

Jesus, Take The Wheel - Carrie Underwood

Mr Know It All - Kelly Clarkson

No Place - Backstreet Boys

Out Last Night - Kenny Chesney

Perfectly Good Heart - Taylor Swift

Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore - Bon Jovi

Somethin’ Bad - Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood

Summer Nights - Rascal Flatts

Swingin’ Door - Catherine Britt

Up All Night - Kip Moore

When The Sun Goes Down - Kenny Chesney

Rest in peace, Brett James. Your words and melodies changed lives, and they’ll keep echoing in country music’s soul.