Carrie Underwood Honors Late Songwriter and Friend Brett James in Emotional ‘Carrie’s Countdown’ Episode
The country music world is in mourning following the devastating death of Brett James, the Grammy-winning songwriter behind Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take The Wheel.”
On September 18, James was tragically killed in a small plane crash in North Carolina, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of songs, friendship, and inspiration.
A Tragic Loss for Nashville’s Music Family
According to local reports, the Cirrus SR22T aircraft — registered to Brett Cornelius of Brentwood, Tennessee — departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville before crashing near Franklin, North Carolina.
FlightAware data shows the plane was en route to Macon County Airport (1A5) when it went down near Iotla Valley Elementary School, just a short distance from the runway. The FAA confirmed the crash occurred “in a wooded area” during the final approach for landing.
James, who was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020, was remembered by friends and fans as one of the most gifted lyricists to ever come out of Music City.
Who Was Brett James? 🎵
Brett James was a two-time ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year (2006 and 2010), known for crafting timeless hits that defined a generation of country music.
His first No. 1 came in 2001 with Jessica Andrews’ “Who I Am.” From there, his career soared — writing and co-writing countless chart-toppers, including:
-
Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” “Something In The Water,” and “Cowboy Casanova”
-
Kenny Chesney’s “When The Sun Goes Down,” “Out Last Night,” and “Keg In The Closet”
-
Jason Aldean’s “The Truth”
-
Dierks Bentley’s “I Hold On”
-
Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights”
“Jesus, Take The Wheel” became one of the most celebrated songs in modern country history, earning James a Grammy Award for Best Country Song (2006), along with ACM Single of the Year, ASCAP Country Song of the Year, and NSAI Song of the Year.
Over the course of his career, Brett James penned 27 No. 1 hits, with hundreds of songs recorded by major artists — his words becoming the heartbeat of country radio for over two decades.
Carrie Underwood Pays Tribute in ‘Carrie’s Countdown’ ❤️
In the wake of his passing, Carrie Underwood has dedicated this month’s edition of her “Carrie’s Country Countdown” on SiriusXM to her dear friend and collaborator, Brett James.
“Carrie’s Country” — her personal radio channel — blends country, gospel, and rock while featuring her favorite songs and stories from her own journey. Each month’s Countdown spotlights a different theme, but this one hits especially close to home.
Speaking with emotion, Carrie shared that the tribute episode will be both healing and celebratory.
“He’s going to be missed so much by anybody that knew him,” she said softly. “This month’s show is about remembering his incredible gift and the joy he brought through his songs.”
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
A Legacy That Will Never Fade
Brett James wasn’t just a songwriter — he was a storyteller who understood how to turn raw emotion into melody. His words gave hope, strength, and faith to millions.
From “Jesus, Take The Wheel” to “Something in the Water,” his music will continue to live on — not just in the voices of the artists who sang his songs, but in the hearts of everyone who ever listened.
As Carrie Underwood’s touching tribute reminds us:
💫 “Some people leave behind songs so beautiful, they never really go away.”
