Songwriter Brett James, who is credited with writing or co-writing hundreds of songs — including Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel” — was one of three people killed in a small plane crash in North Carolina, according to multiple people close to him.
A Cirrus SR22T crashed in a field in Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Songwriter, Brett James performs onstage during NSAI 2022 Nashville Songwriter Awards at Ryman Auditorium on September 20, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Terry Wyatt/Getty Images
Three people were on the plane when it crashed, officials confirmed. Nobody on board survived.
The crash happened on a property adjacent to the Iotla Valley Elementary School, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office told Asheville ABC affiliate WLOS, but students and staff at the school were all reported safe.
For more than 20 years, James, 57, was known primarily as a songwriter for other country and pop music artists, including Carrie Underwood, whose hit song, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” won Grammy Awards for best country song and best female country vocalperformance.
James — who was born in Columbia, Missouri, in 1968 — has also written songs for many other artists, including Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean.
Three people died, including songwriter Brett James, in a plane crash in Franklin, N.C., on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.
WLOS
Officials said they are still trying to figure out what caused the plane crash.
“The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate,” the FAA said. “The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates.”
