Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, known for penning some of country music’s biggest hits, including Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” died in a plane crash in North Carolina on September 18, 2025. James, 57, was among three people killed when their single-engine aircraft went down in Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m.
The crash involved a Cirrus SR22T registered under James’ legal name, Brett Cornelius, which went down in a field adjacent to the Macon County Airport. Flight tracking data indicated the aircraft had departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville before the incident occurred. The plane crashed near Iotla Valley Elementary School, though no students or faculty were injured.
The two other victims were identified as James’ wife, Melody Wilson, 59, and her daughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson, 28. Wilson had celebrated her 28th birthday just one day before the crash, with her mother posting birthday wishes on social media. Meryl Wilson had shared on Instagram that she was celebrating “142 days sober” and was “extremely happy to be here.”
James and Melody Wilson had married in August 2021, with Wilson posting about their wedding on social media. The couple had been living together in a Nashville home since at least 2020. James is survived by four adult children from his previous marriage to Sandra Cornelius-Little.
Born in Columbia, Missouri, James initially pursued medical studies at the University of Oklahoma before leaving to focus on music. He graduated from Christian Heritage Academy in Del City, Oklahoma, and briefly returned to medical school in 1999 after his early music career stalled. However, when Faith Hill recorded his song “Love is a Sweet Thing,” James permanently committed to songwriting.
James achieved remarkable success as a songwriter, penning hundreds of songs across country and pop genres. His breakthrough came with “Who I Am” by Jessica Andrews in 2001, his first number one hit. “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” co-written for Carrie Underwood, became his most recognized work, earning Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2007.
His extensive catalog included hits for major artists such as Kenny Chesney’s “When the Sun Goes Down,” Jason Aldean’s “The Truth,” and Dierks Bentley’s “I Hold On.” James also wrote for mainstream pop and rock acts, including Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson, and the Backstreet Boys. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.
Kenny Chesney, a longtime collaborator, expressed profound grief over James’ death. Chesney indicated that James was like a brother to him and noted that “half the songs in my shows are songs he wrote or songs we wrote together.” The pair had written several hits together, including “Reality” and “Out Last Night,” which were composed during a single afternoon at Chesney’s Virgin Islands home.
Carrie Underwood paid tribute to James, describing him as the epitome of “cool” and expressing that his death was “just unfathomable.” She emphasized that her favorite songs to perform were those about faith that James had written or co-written, calling the thoughts and feelings behind them “genuine and pure.”
The music industry mourned James’ loss, with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers describing him as “a trusted collaborator to country’s greatest names, and a true advocate for his fellow songwriters.” James had served as a longtime board member for the Nashville Songwriters Association International and was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year in 2006 and 2010.
Dierks Bentley reflected on their collaboration on “I Hold On,” stating that James understood the meaningful nature of the song immediately and that their friendship and the song changed his life. Jason Aldean expressed being “heartbroken” by the loss, noting that James helped change his life and that he had nothing but love and respect for the songwriter.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. An NTSB investigator documented the scene and examined the aircraft, which was expected to be removed and taken to a facility for further evaluation.
James’ final social media posts included Father’s Day photos with his children in June, captioned with appreciation for the holiday. His death represents a significant loss to the Nashville songwriting community, where he was respected for his ability to craft memorable melodies and meaningful lyrics that connected with millions of listeners across multiple genres.
