Brett James’ heartbreaking final Instagram posts showcased his beloved family members.
The 57-year-old singer died in a plane crash in North Carolina while traveling with his wife, 55-year-old Melody Carole Wilson, and her daughter, 28-year-old Meryl Maxwell Wilson, when their private aircraft plummeted into a field near Franklin, North Carolina, on Thursday afternoon.
Aviation records indicate the plane departed John C. Tune Airport in Nashville at 12.41pm and crashed just over two hours later close to Iotla Valley Elementary School.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed no one survived, with regional news stations FOX 17 and WTVF-TV covering the incident.
Brett’s touching final family snapshots have surfaced following the devastating accident.
She penned, “Happy Birthday my Love!! How Blessed am I to be your Momma! You’re the MOST BEAUTIFUL AMAZING HUMAN inside and out! I’m humbled and grateful everyday for your shining presence in my life! God has already used you for His Kingdom in so many ways and so much more to come! No words can express what a gift you are to me and everyone that KNOWS YOU.”
Brett emerged as one of Nashville’s most accomplished songwriters throughout his career, crafting chart-toppers for the biggest names in country music.
He was the creative force behind Carrie Underwood’s Jesus, Take the Wheel – snagging a Grammy award for Best Country Song in 2007 – and “Cowboy Casanova.”
Brett’s songwriting prowess extended to Tim McGraw’s Telluride, Drugs or Jesus, and It’s a Business Doing Pleasure with You, Kenny Chesney’s hits When the Sun Goes Down, Out Last Night, and Keg in the Closet, as well as Dierks Bentley’s I Hold On, Jason Aldean’s The Truth, and Rascal Flatts’ Summer Nights.
Peers in the music industry expressed their condolences online. Dierks Bentley took to Instagram, sharing, “Our friendship and that song changed my life,” in reference to I Hold On.
Jason Aldean expressed on X, “Honored to have met him and worked with him.”
Tim McGraw shared his grief on social media, “So heartbroken to hear about the passing of Brett James. Brett was one of the most talented and most respected songwriters in Nashville and wrote some of my personal favorite songs I ever recorded, Telluride and Drugs or Jesus. Our family’s hearts go out to his family, friends and everyone who loved him.”
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) honored the late Brett James on 19 September with a heartfelt statement, “We’re mourning the loss of Brett James, co-writer of Jesus, Take the Wheel and When the Sun Goes Down and a 2-time ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year. Brett was a trusted collaborator to country’s greatest names, and a true advocate for his fellow songwriters. Brett, your ASCAP family misses you dearly. Thank you for your unforgettable music.”
Brett leaves behind his adult children and former wife Sandra Cornelius-Little.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
