The music industry is mourning the loss of Brett James, a Grammy Award-winning country music songwriter, who died in a plane crash in North Carolina last Thursday. James, 57, was among three passengers aboard a single-engine Cirrus SR22T plane that had departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville. The plane tragically crashed into an open field near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, NC, resulting in the fatalities of all on board.
The crash site was in close proximity to Macon County Airport and the elementary school, which is surrounded by fields. However, the school was not impacted by the crash, and no students or staff members were harmed in the incident.
James was a revered figure in the country music industry, especially during the 2000s and early 2010s. He was the creative genius behind numerous 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 talent was evident in his remarkable record of 27 number-one hits on country radio. One of his most significant 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 honored with induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, a testament to his substantial contributions to the music industry. Among his other notable works was Dierks Bentley’s 2013 hit “I Hold On.”
Bentley expressed his sorrow 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.