{"id":2034753,"date":"2025-09-19T16:09:04","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T16:09:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2034753"},"modified":"2025-09-19T16:09:04","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T16:09:04","slug":"who-was-brett-james-what-to-know-about-the-country-singer-after-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/who-was-brett-james-what-to-know-about-the-country-singer-after-death\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Was Brett James? What to Know About the Country Singer After Death"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Brett James<\/strong> was an established country singer-songwriter ahead of his tragic death<\/a> in a September 2025 plane crash.<\/p>\n

\u201cI turned 50 last year, and I had one of those birthday epiphanies. I thought, \u2018I\u2019d been writing songs for other artists for a long time, and I wanted to re-evaluate things,\u2019\u201d James told Songwriter Universe<\/i><\/a> in a 2020 interview. \u201cI hadn\u2019t put out any music of my own in around 25 years. \u2026 I got inspired to do that without thinking about genre or trying to write radio hits. I know what my most natural voice is, and that was my only preconceived take on things.\u201d<\/p>\n

James described his EP, I Am Now, <\/i>as a \u201cNashville soul record.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m kind of a natural soul singer,\u201d he told the outlet. \u201cI started writing it and let creativity lead the way. I took time off from my day job as a working songwriter, and I wrote about 11 songs in two weeks. I had as much fun in those two weeks than I\u2019ve ever had writing songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Country Stars Mourn Songwriter Brett James After Fatal Plane Crash<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tThe country music world is honoring Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James after he died in a plane crash at age 57. James was one of three people onboard a plane that went down on Thursday, September 18, near North Carolina\u2019s Iotla Valley Elementary School. According to local news stations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed in [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Keep scrolling to learn more about James:<\/p>\n

What Was Brett James Known For?<\/b><\/h2>\n

In addition to recording and performing his own music, James also wrote a slate of 26 songs for other artists, including Kenny Chesney<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cWhen the Sun Goes Down,\u201d Jason Aldean<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cThe Truth\u201d and Carrie Underwood<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cJesus, Take the Wheel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt turned into something special for all of us, and I think it\u2019s still special to Carrie. I\u2019ve been so blessed by her over the years,\u201d he told The Tennessean<\/a> <\/i>in 2020 of Underwood\u2019s Grammy-winning song. \u201cThe right song meets the perfect voice, which is Carrie\u2019s. Put it together with this megaphone [radio], and all of a sudden you really have something that changes the world a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Was Brett James Married?<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Courtesy of Brett James\/ Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

James was married to Sandra Cornelius<\/strong>, who was a fixture on the musician\u2019s social media pages.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo much fun with my love in the Bahamas,\u201d he captioned a selfie in June 2025.<\/p>\n

Brett James Was a Father of 4<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Courtesy of Brett James\/ Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

James and Cornelius shared four children, three sons and a daughter, which inspired his song \u201cTrue Believer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI sort of loved watching them all cry as they listened to the song,\u201d he previously told American Songwriter <\/i>in 2020.<\/i> \u201cMy daughter and I will always have that moment, and we will always have that song.\u201d<\/p>\n

How Did Brett James Die?<\/b><\/h2>\n

James, who was 57, was one of three people onboard a plane that crashed<\/a> in North Carolina. There were no survivors from the accident.<\/p>\n

How Stars Have Reacted to Brett James\u2019 Death<\/b><\/h2>\n

Country performers like Aldean, Dierks Bentley<\/strong> and Sara Evans<\/strong> have paid tribute to James\u2019 legacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeartbroken 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,\u201d Aldean wrote via X. \u201cHonored to have met him and worked with him. Thoughts and prayers going out to his family. \ud83d\udc94<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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