Brett James, a Grammy-winning songwriter, tragically died in a small-engine airplane crash on Thursday, September 18th. He was 57 years old. The National Transportation Safety Board is looking into what caused the crash.
James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. He won a Grammy for writing Carrie Underwood’s hit song, “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” which topped the charts in 2006. Over his career, he had more than 500 songs recorded, contributing to albums that sold over 110 million copies.
In addition to Underwood, James wrote for many big names, including Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Billy Currington, and Dierks Bentley. Bentley shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, calling James “one of the best singer-songwriters in our town… total legend.” The two collaborated on the song “I Hold On,” which Bentley said changed his life.
Brett James was born on June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri. He started out in medical school but left to chase his dream of being a singer-songwriter. After some struggles, he returned to school but was signed by music producer Mark Bright, which led to his success. He eventually dropped out for good to focus on music.
Mark Ford, executive director of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, remembered James as “a kind, giving, delightful soul.” He expressed sadness over James’s passing and the songs he still had left to write, which would have brought joy to many.
