Introduction to Brett James
Brett James, a Grammy-award winning songwriter, passed away on Thursday in a plane crash in North Carolina. He was 57 years old. James was known for his hit songs, including Carrie Underwood’s "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and Kenny Chesney’s "When the Sun Goes Down".
The Plane Crash
James was one of three people on board a Cirrus SR22T aircraft that crashed near Franklin, North Carolina. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the incident.
Tributes to Brett James
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame announced James’ death in a Facebook post on Friday. The ASCAP organization, which represents songwriters’ rights, wrote a tribute post, saying: "We mourn the loss of Brett James… A two-time ASCAP Country songwriter of the year. Brett was a trusted collaborator of the country’s biggest names and a true advocate for songwriters. We will miss him dearly."
Early Life and Career
A native of Oklahoma City, James, whose real name is Brett Cornelius, left medical school to pursue a career in music in Nashville. He worked as an artist for several years before focusing on songwriting and achieving early hits with Chesney, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Martina McBride. In 2001, Jessica Andrews’ "Who I Am" became his first country chart-topper.
Notable Hits
In 2006, James won a Grammy for Best Country Song for "Jesus Take The Wheel", which he wrote with Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson. The song also won the Academy of Country Music’s Single of the Year award in 2005 and the ASCAP Country Song of the Year award in 2005. Other notable hits include Underwood’s "Cowboy Casanova", Chesney’s "Out Last Night", Rodney Atkins’ "It’s America", Rascal Flatts’ "Summer Nights", Chris Young’s "The Man I Want to Be", and Brantley Gilbert’s "Bottoms Up". James also achieved a Latin hit with "Todo Mi Amor".
