Nashville songwriter Brett James died on Sept. 18 in a small-engine plane crash that took place in Franklin, North Carolina. He was 57 years old.
James, a Columbia, Missouri native, was a Grammy Award-winning songwriter known for co-writing Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” as well as many other country hits.
The tune became Underwood’s first number-one single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
2020 inductee Brett James during the the 50th/51st Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala at Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 1, 2021.
Following the news of James’ death, Underwood spoke out on social media.
Carrie Underwood calls death of songwriter Brett James ‘unfathomable
“Some things are just unfathomable. The loss of Brett James to his family, friends and our music community is too great to put into words,” Underwood wrote on Instagram.
“Brett was the epitome of ‘cool.’ I see him in my mind riding up to my cabins to write on his motorcycle…his hair somehow perfectly coiffed despite being under a helmet for however long,” she said. “I always loved hearing him sing ‘Cowboy Casanova’ because a sassy girl anthem should’ve sounded ridiculous coming from a macho dude like him, but somehow, he even made that cool.”
Underwood said that James was a good guy, and that when she wrote one song with him, he came with the tune basically ready. Underwood helped fill in the blanks, but didn’t feel right splitting the credit evenly when James had done most of the work.
“He wouldn’t have it,” she said. “He insisted that everything be equal. He was just that kind of guy…”
Underwood wrote that James loved the lord and that the two of them would sing together at church.
“My favorite songs to sing of ours are the ones that he or we wrote about Jesus because the thoughts and feelings behind them are so genuine and pure. I won’t ever sing one note of them again without thinking of him,” Underwood continued.
“Brett’s passing is leaving a hole in all of us that I fear won’t ever go away. It will forever be a reminder that this life is but a moment…we have to make the most of each day we’re given here on earth. Each day is a gift,” she said, asking everyone to pray for James’ family and friends.
“Love you, man,” she said. “I’ll see you again someday.”
Story behind the song: Brett James killed in plane crash. What the songwriter said about co-writing Carrie Underwood’s iconic hit
What Brett James said about writing Carrie Underwood’s first big hit
James and songwriters Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson gathered for a writing session that would become the 2005 hit “Jesus, Take The Wheel.”
According to a 2020 “Story Behind the Song” video interview, the song — which tells the story of a young mother skidding on black ice and recommitting her life to Christ after coming to a safe stop — barely made the cut when deciding which songs Underwood would record.
Brett James sings on stage during a live broadcast at Analog in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 8, 2025.
“It turned into something special for all of us, and I think it’s still special to Carrie,” James said. “I’ve been so blessed by her over the years.”
James went on to co-write many songs for Underwood, including “Love Wins”, “Cowboy Casanova” and “Game On.”
“The right song meets the perfect voice, which is Carrie’s,” James said. “Put it together with this megaphone [radio], and all of a sudden you really have something that changes the world a little bit.”
Contributing: Diana Levya, Marcus Dowling
Audrey Gibbs is a music journalist with The Tennessean. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Carrie Underwood mourns death of ‘Jesus Take the Wheel’ songwriter
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