On the afternoon of September 18, 2025, renowned American songwriter and producer Brett James tragically passed away in a plane crash near Franklin, North Carolina. He was one of three individuals on board a Cirrus SR22T aircraft that crashed into a field near Iotla Valley Elementary School. The crash occurred around 3 p.m. local time, and all occupants perished. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated investigations to determine the cause of the accident.
Brett James Cornelius, born on June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri, initially pursued a career in medicine but later shifted his focus to music. He gained widespread recognition as a songwriter for prominent artists such as Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, and Rascal Flatts. Notably, his co-written song “Jesus, Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2007.
Throughout his career, James penned over 300 songs, with 26 achieving number-one status on country music charts. He was honored twice as ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year and received accolades from the Nashville Songwriters Association. In 2020, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The loss of Brett James has deeply affected the music community. Artists and fans alike have expressed their condolences and shared memories of his contributions to the industry. Country artist Dierks Bentley remarked, “Brett was a total legend. He helped me write ‘I Hold On,’ a song that holds personal significance to me. I’ll always remember him”
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, and further details will be provided as they become available.