Brett James, a Grammy Award-winning country music songwriter, tragically lost his life in a plane crash in North Carolina this past Thursday. James, 57, was one of three passengers on a single-engine Cirrus SR22T plane that had taken off from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville. The aircraft crashed into an open field near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, NC, resulting in the death of all on board.
The school, which is situated next to Macon County Airport and surrounded by fields, was not affected by the crash. No students or staff members were injured in the incident.
James was a highly respected figure in the country music scene, particularly during the 2000s and early 2010s. He was the creative force behind many popular songs, including Brantley Gilbert’s “Bottoms Up,” Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights,” and several tracks for artists such as Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, and Carrie Underwood.
James’ songwriting prowess was evident in his impressive track record of 27 number-one hits on country radio. One of his most notable achievements was Underwood’s “Jesus Take The Wheel,” which won Best Country Song at the 49th Grammy Awards in 2007 and was also nominated for Song of the Year.
In 2020, James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, a testament to his significant contributions to the music industry. Among his other notable works was Dierks Bentley’s 2013 hit “I Hold On.”
Bentley expressed his grief over James’ passing on Thursday night, referring to the Missouri-born songwriter as “a total legend.” Bentley also credited James for helping him refine the concept of “I Hold On,” a song written in the wake of Bentley’s father’s death.