Brett James, ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ Songwriter Dies in North Carolina Plane Crash

Lead Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James Cornelius, co-author of Carrie Underwood’s 2005 hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” and two passengers were killed when the single-engine Cirrus SR22T crashed near Franklin, North Carolina, on Thursday afternoon.

Nut Graf James, 57, whose catalog included more than 500 songs recorded by top country artists, was on a private flight from Nashville when the aircraft went down around 3:00 p.m. local time. His passing marks a profound loss for Nashville’s songwriting community and country music at large.

Crash Details and Investigation

  • The North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the forested crash site beside Macon County Airport at approximately 3:05 p.m. on Sept. 18.
  • All three aboard-James, his wife Sandra Cornelius’s companion Melody Carole, and Carole’s daughter Meryl Maxwell Wilson-perished in the accident.
  • The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the crash, which remains under review.

Career and Legacy

Brett James left medical school to pursue songwriting in Nashville, and by 2020 he’d been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His achievements include:

  • Writing “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” which earned him a Grammy for Best Country Song in 2006 and helped launch Carrie Underwood’s career.
  • Penning chart-toppers for artists such as Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean.
  • Co-writing hits like “Cowboy Casanova,” “Out Last Night,” “Who I Am” and “The Man I Want to Be.”

Tributes from the Music Community

Carrie Underwood described James’s death as “just unfathomable,” recalling his faith and integrity as foundations for their collaboration on faith-based material. ASCAP, Rascal Flatts and other artists shared condolences, lauding James as “a songwriting force of nature” and “a genuine supporter of songwriters”.

What’s Next

The NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report on the crash within weeks. Meanwhile, Nashville’s songwriting community is planning a memorial event to honor James’s contributions later this month.