Brett James, writer of ‘Jesus, Take The Wheel,’ dies in plane crash at 57
Grammy award-a success nation songwriter Brett James, whose string of high hits entails “Jesus, Seize the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood and “When the Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney, died in a airplane shatter in North Carolina, authorities talked about Friday. He became once 57.
The little airplane with three folks aboard crashed Thursday afternoon “below unknown situations” within the woods in Franklin, the Federal Aviation Administration talked about in a preliminary characterize. There hold been no survivors, the North Carolina Narrate Freeway Patrol talked about in an announcement.
James became once on a Cirrus SR22T, which became once registered to him below his correct name of Brett James Cornelius, in accordance with info offered by the FAA. It became once no longer known if he became once the pilot. The patrol confirmed his loss of life. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board talked about they would compare the shatter.
The other two folks on the airplane hold been Melody Carole and Meryl Maxwell Wilson, the patrol confirmed.
The airplane had taken off from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville.
James became once inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Reputation in 2020. The organization posted a web-based assertion of mourning.
A native of Oklahoma City, James left clinical college to pursue a song profession in Nashville, according his biography on the Hall of Reputation’s verbalize.
His first No. 1 hit became once “Who I Am” in 2001, by Jessica Andrews. “Jesus, Seize the Wheel,” which he co-wrote for Underwood, earned the 2006 Grammy for Handiest Nation Tune, among other honors.
James had more than 500 of his songs recorded, for albums with mixed sales of more than 110 million copies, in accordance along with his Colossal Ole Opry biography online.
A bunch of artists who sang his songs consist of Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Gash Jonas and Meghan Trainor.
Extra hits consist of “Cowboy Casanova” by Underwood, “Out Closing Night time” by Chesney and “Summer Nights” by Rascal Flatts.
“Heartbroken to listen to of the inability of my buddy Brett James tonight,” nation singer Jason Aldean posted on X. “I had nothing nonetheless love and admire for that man and he helped alternate my lifestyles. Honored to hold met him and worked with him.”
James recorded his own album in 2020.
“At my stage in lifestyles, I’m no longer going to jot down about driving around in pickup trucks, chasing ladies,” he became once quoted as announcing on the Opry verbalize. “It distinguished to feel more classic, lyrically. They all injure up being love songs, nonetheless confidently love songs with a twist, that haven’t all been written sooner than.”
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Associated Press reporter Kristin M. Hall in Nashville contributed to this myth.
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