Country Songwriter Behind Hits for Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean Killed in Tragic Plane Crash

Brett James, a country music songwriter, has perished.

On Friday, September 19, WZTV Nashville reported that the Grammy Award winner — along with two other people — was killed in a small-engine plane crash.

“A Cirrus SR22T crashed in a field in Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 18,” a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) read, per WZTV. “Three people were on board.”

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame made a Facebook post Thursday honoring the record producer.

“We mourn the untimely loss of Hall of Fame member Brett James (“Jesus Take The Wheel” / “When The Sun Goes Down”), a 2020 inductee who was killed in a small-engine airplane crash on Sept. 18. He was 57,” they wrote on the platform.

Throughout his career, James penned many country music hits, including Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel” and Jason Aldean’s “The Truth.”

Aldean, 48, paid tribute to James at his concert on Thursday night, sharing the sad news with the audience and performing “The Truth” in honor of his friend, according to an Instagram video he posted on Friday.

“Heartbroken to hear of the loss of my friend Brett James tonight. I had nothing but love and respect for that guy and he helped change my life,” Aldean captioned the video. “Honored to have met him and worked with him. Thoughts and prayers going out to his family. 💔”