Nashville songwriter Brett James died on Sept. 18<\/a>\u00a0in a small-engine plane crash that took place in Franklin, North Carolina. He was 57 years old.<\/p>\n James, a Columbia, Missouri native, was a Grammy Award-winning songwriter known for co-writing Carrie Underwood\u2019s \u201cJesus, Take the Wheel,\u201d as well as many other country hits.<\/p>\n The tune became Underwood\u2019s first number-one single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Following the news of James’ death, Underwood spoke out on social media.<\/p>\n “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<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Brett was the epitome of ‘cool.’ I see him in my mind riding up to my cabins to write on his motorcycle\u2026his 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\u2019ve sounded ridiculous coming from a macho dude like him, but somehow, he even made that cool.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “He wouldn\u2019t have it,” she said. “He insisted that everything be equal. He was just that kind of guy\u2026”<\/p>\n Underwood wrote that James loved the lord and that the two of them would sing together at church.<\/p>\n “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\u2019t ever sing one note of them again without thinking of him,” Underwood continued.<\/p>\n “Brett\u2019s passing is leaving a hole in all of us that I fear won\u2019t ever go away. It will forever be a reminder that this life is but a moment\u2026we have to make the most of each day we\u2019re given here on earth. Each day is a gift,” she said, asking everyone to pray for James’ family and friends.<\/p>\n “Love you, man,” she said. “I\u2019ll see you again someday.”<\/p>\n Story behind the song: <\/strong>Brett James killed in plane crash. What the songwriter said about co-writing Carrie Underwood’s iconic hit<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n James and songwriters Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson gathered for a writing session that would become the 2005 hit “Jesus, Take The Wheel.”<\/p>\n According to a\u00a02020 “Story Behind the Song” video interview<\/a>, the song \u2014 which tells the story of a young mother skidding on black ice and recommitting her life to Christ after coming to a safe stop \u2014 barely made the cut when deciding which songs Underwood would record.<\/p>\n Brett James sings on stage during a live broadcast at Analog in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 8, 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cIt turned into something special for all of us, and I think it\u2019s still special to Carrie,\u201d James said. \u201cI\u2019ve been so blessed by her over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n James went on to co-write many songs for Underwood, including “Love Wins”, “Cowboy Casanova” and “Game On.”<\/p>\n \u201cThe right song meets the perfect voice, which is Carrie\u2019s,\u201d James said. \u201cPut 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 Contributing: Diana Levya, Marcus Dowling<\/p>\n Audrey Gibbs is a music journalist with The Tennessean. You can reach her at agibbs@tennessean.com. <\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Carrie Underwood mourns death of ‘Jesus Take the Wheel’ songwriter<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
Carrie Underwood calls death of songwriter Brett James ‘unfathomable<\/h2>\n
What Brett James said about writing Carrie Underwood’s first big hit<\/h2>\n
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