The music world is mourning the loss of Brett James, the Grammy-winning songwriter best known for penning Carrie Underwood’s breakout hit “Jesus, Take The Wheel.” James died Thursday, September 18, 2025, in a small-plane crash in Macon County, near Franklin, North Carolina. He was 57.
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According to WLOS, James was aboard a single-engine aircraft that went down around 3 p.m. EST. None of the three passengers survived. Federal Aviation Administration records list the plane’s registration under Brett Cornelius of Brentwood, Tennessee — the artist’s full name is Brett James Cornelius.
Born June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri, James initially pursued medicine before leaving medical school to follow his passion for music. He signed with Arista Nashville’s Career Records as a solo artist in the mid-1990s but found his greatest success as a songwriter.
Over his career, James wrote or co-wrote more than 300 songs recorded by major artists, including Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, and Chris Young. His 2005 collaboration with Underwood, “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” became a multi-award-winning anthem, earning a Grammy for Best Country Song as well as honors from the ACM, ASCAP, and NSAI.
James’ catalog also includes Chesney’s “When The Sun Goes Down,” Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova,” Brantley Gilbert’s “Bottoms Up,” and Paulina Rubio’s Latin hit *“The One You Love (Todo Mi Amor).” He was twice named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.
In interviews, James often spoke of his gratitude for the artists who brought his words to life. “This award especially belongs to you,” he told fellow writers and performers during his Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2021.
Tributes poured in across social media Thursday night. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame wrote:
“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.”
James is remembered not only as a prolific hitmaker but also as a mentor and champion for songwriters across genres.