Carrie Underwood Dedicates This Month’s “Carrie’s Countdown” To Late Songwriter & Friend Brett James
on Oct 24, 2025
“Jesus, Take The Wheel” Songwriter Brett James Killed In Plane Crash
On September 18, Brett James, a renowned songwriter who was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020, was killed in a small plane crash.
Local news outlets reported that a small aircraft registered to Brett Cornelius of Brentwood, Tennessee, crashed outside of Franklin, North Carolina.
According to WSMV, FlightAware data shows that the Cirrus SR22T departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville before crashing in North Carolina. The aircraft was reportedly en route from Nashville to Macon County Airport (1A5) in Franklin, North Carolina.
The aircraft went down near Iotla Valley Elementary School, adjacent to the airport, indicating it crashed while approaching for landing. The FAA’s preliminary report confirmed the accident occurred “in a wooded area” on approach.
Who Was Brett James?
Brett was a two-time recipient of the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year Award (2006 and 2010).
He earned his first No. 1 hit in 2001 with Jessica Andrews’ “Who I Am.” Other songs that he either wrote or co-wrote include Carrie Underwood’s “Something In The Water,” “Jesus, Take The Wheel” and “Cowboy Casanova,” Kenny Chesney’s “When The Sun Goes Down,” “Out Last Night,” and “Keg In the Closet”), “I Hold On” by Dierks Bentley, “The Truth” by Jason Aldean, and Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights.”
“Jesus, Take The Wheel” earned James a Grammy for Best Country Song in 2006 and trophies for ACM Single of the Year, ASCAP Country Song of the Year, and NSAI Song of the Year.
Brett had hundreds of songs recorded by major label artists, earning 27 No. 1 hits throughout his career.
Carrie Underwood Dedicates Special Countdown To Brett James
This month, Carrie Underwood is dedicating her “Carrie’s Country” Countdown to her dear friend, Brett.
“Carrie’s Country” is a SiriusXM radio channel featuring a mix of new and classic country, rock, and gospel music, along with guest DJs and stories from Carrie’s career.
Each month, Carrie counts down her favorite songs based on a new theme, dedicating the show to one of her favorite topics.
Sharing with raw emotion in her voice, Carrie shared that this month’s honor to Brett will be “healing” and “celebratory.”
“He’s going to be missed so much by anybody that knew him,” Carrie said.
You can listen to Carrie’s Country here.
