{"id":2034191,"date":"2025-09-19T11:01:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T11:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2034191"},"modified":"2025-09-19T11:01:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T11:01:13","slug":"brett-james-grammy-winning-jesus-take-the-wheel-songwriter-dies-in-north-carolina-plane-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/brett-james-grammy-winning-jesus-take-the-wheel-songwriter-dies-in-north-carolina-plane-crash\/","title":{"rendered":"Brett James, Grammy-winning \u2018Jesus, Take the Wheel\u2019 songwriter, dies in North Carolina plane crash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, known for penning hits including Carrie Underwood\u2019s \u201cJesus, Take the Wheel,\u201d died in a small-engine plane crash on Thursday, according to the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NashvilleSongwritersHOF\/posts\/1193568016150743?ref=embed_post\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame<\/a>. He was 57.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A plane registered under James\u2019 name reportedly crashed into a field in Franklin, North Carolina, about 270 miles southeast of Nashville, around 3 p.m. Thursday, according to data from <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flightaware.com\/resources\/registration\/N218VB\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:FlightAware;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">FlightAware<\/a> and a statement from the FAA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The plane departed from John C Tune Airport in Nashville, according to FlightAware. It crashed into a field near Iotla Valley Elementary School, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wlos.com\/news\/local\/airplane-accident-franklin-students-staff-iotla-valley-elementary-school-macon-county-airport-sheriffs-office\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:CNN affiliate WLOS;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">celebrity.land affiliate WLOS<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe students, and staff are safe. There was an airplane accident on the neighboring property. Again all students and staff are safe,\u201d Macon County Sheriff\u2019s Office wrote in a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=723664300728586&amp;id=100092550686809&amp;ref=embed_post\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Facebook post;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Facebook post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Three people were on board the plane, according to the FAA, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">celebrity.land has reached out to Macon County Sheriff\u2019s Office for further information.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>A plane carrying three people crashed in Franklin, North Carolina, Thursday. &#8211; WYFF<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">James, who worked with megastars like Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi and Keith Urban, won a Grammy for Best Country Song in 2006 for co-writing \u201cJesus, Take the Wheel.\u201d He also wrote on Kenny Chesney\u2019s \u201cOut Last Night,\u201d and was regarded as one of the industry\u2019s most sought-after collaborators.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">His more than 500 songs have appeared on albums with combined sales of over 110 million copies, according to the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nashvillesongwriters.com\/node\/154\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Nashville Songwriters Association International;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Nashville Songwriters Association International<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In 2020, James was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also owned the publishing company Cornman Music and served on the board of the Country Music Association and as a national trustee of The Recording Academy, according to the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nashvillesymphony.org\/tickets\/concert\/2024-2025-season\/bluebird-at-the-symphony-with-the-nashville-symphony\/brett-james\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Nashville Symphony;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Nashville Symphony<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cBrett was a trusted collaborator to country\u2019s greatest names, and a true advocate for his fellow songwriters,\u201d the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DOxJGZ5kf3u\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:an Instagram post;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">an Instagram post<\/a> announcing James\u2019 death.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cRest in peace pal. Total stud. Fellow aviator. One of the best singer-songwriters in our town\u2026.total legend,\u201d country musician Dierks Bentley wrote on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DOxQ5f2jArm\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Instagram;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>This is a developing story and will be updated.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For more celebrity.land news and newsletters create an account at <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/account\/register?source=external-feeds_iluminar&amp;cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo&amp;registration_email_campaign=https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:CNN.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">celebrity.land.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, known for penning hits including Carrie Underwood\u2019s \u201cJesus, Take the Wheel,\u201d died in a small-engine plane crash on Thursday, according to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was 57. A plane registered under James\u2019 name reportedly crashed into a field in Franklin, North Carolina, about 270 miles southeast of Nashville, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2034192,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[375297,22844,375410,355582,375414,23510,375413,375302,375411,309691,375301,375412],"class_list":["post-2034191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-brett-james","tag-carrie-underwood","tag-franklin","tag-jesus","tag-macon-county-sheriff","tag-nashville","tag-nashville-songwriters-association-international","tag-nashville-songwriters-hall-of-fame","tag-national-transportation-safety-board","tag-north-carolina","tag-plane-crash","tag-take-the-wheel"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Brett-James-Grammy-winning-\u2018Jesus-Take-the-Wheel-songwriter-dies-in.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2034191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2034191"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2034191\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2034192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2034191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2034191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2034191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}