.png)
Grammy-Winning Songwriter Brett James Dies in Tragic Plane Crash in North Carolina
Sep 22, 2025
2 min read
The country music world is mourning after the tragic loss of Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, who died in a plane crash in North Carolina this week. He was 57.
James, one of Nashville’s most respected and beloved songwriters, was traveling on his private plane with his new wife and her 28-year-old daughter, who had just celebrated her birthday, when their aircraft went down near the Macon County Airport. Authorities say the single-engine Cirrus SR22T crashed “under unknown circumstances” in a wooded area. All three were killed. The flight had departed from Nashville earlier that day.
Brett James wasn’t just a songwriter — he was a cornerstone of the country music community. Best known for co-writing the career-defining 2005 hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel” with Carrie Underwood, James won a Grammy for Best Country Song, and helped usher in a new era of country-pop crossover success. The song became a spiritual and emotional anthem for millions and helped launch Underwood’s legendary career.
Following the news, Underwood shared an emotional tribute:
“Brett was the epitome of cool,” she said. “My favorite songs to sing of ours are the ones that he or we wrote about Jesus because the thoughts and feelings behind them are so genuine and pure. I won’t ever sing one note of them again without thinking of him. Brett’s passing is leaving a hole in all of us that I fear won’t ever go away.”
Throughout his decades-long career, James wrote hits for some of the biggest names in country — including Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Martina McBride, and Dierks Bentley. His catalog boasts more than 20 No. 1 songs, and he was known just as much for his humility and kindness as for his extraordinary talent.
The Nashville songwriting community is already sharing stories and memories of Brett. The late-night writes, the laughter in the studio, and the magic that happened when he picked up a guitar. He was a songwriter's songwriter — the guy everyone wanted in the room when it really mattered.
As the industry grieves, we remember Brett James not only for the songs he gave us, but for the heart and soul he poured into every lyric. His music will live on in the voices of artists and fans who continue to find comfort and strength in the words he left behind.
