Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, known for his work with numerous country music stars, tragically passed away in a plane crash on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The crash, which occurred near Franklin, North Carolina, also claimed the lives of his wife, Melody Carole, and her daughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson. James was 57 years old.
The plane, a Cirrus SR22T, took off from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, Tennessee. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the aircraft crashed in a field around 3 p.m. local time. While the field was near Iotla Valley Elementary School, no students or staff were harmed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the cause of the crash. It remains unclear whether James was piloting the plane at the time of the accident.
Online flight records indicate that the plane was registered under James' legal name, Brett Cornelius. Meryl Maxwell Wilson had celebrated her birthday just the day before the crash, posting on Instagram, "28 years old. 142 days sober. Extremely happy to be here". Melody Carole Wilson also acknowledged the birthday with a social media post.
In June, Brett James shared a photo on Instagram of himself surrounded by family with the caption, "Such an amazing Father's Day!!". Days prior to that, he posted a selfie with his wife, Melody, on the beach, writing, "So much fun with my love in the Bahamas".
James' death has sent shockwaves through the country music community. Carrie Underwood, for whom James co-wrote the hit "Jesus, Take the Wheel," mourned his loss on Instagram, writing, "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...Brett's passing is leaving a hole in all of us that I fear won't ever go away". Jason Aldean also expressed his grief on X, stating, "Heartbroken to hear of the loss of my friend Brett James…I had nothing but love and respect for that guy and he helped change my life. Honored to have met him and worked with him. Thoughts and prayers going out to his family".
Brett James was a prolific songwriter, penning hits for numerous country stars, including Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Jessica Andrews and Martina McBride. His songwriting credits include "Jesus, Take the Wheel," "When the Sun Goes Down," "Blessed," and "Out Last Night". "Jesus, Take the Wheel" earned Underwood a Grammy Award. James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. The organization shared a tribute on social media, saying, "We mourn the untimely loss of Hall of Fame member Brett James ('Jesus Take The Wheel' / 'When the Sun Goes Down'), a 2020 inductee who was killed in a small-engine airplane crash on Sept. 18". The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) also posted a tribute, calling him a "legendary songwriter and board member".
James released a solo album in the 1990s. In 2020, he recorded another album. Brett James is survived by his adult children from his previous marriage to Sandra Cornelius-Little.
