Brett James, 57, the Grammy-winning songwriter best known for co-writing the 2005 hit Jesus Take the Wheel, died in a plane crash in North Carolina, authorities said. He was among three people aboard a single-engine Cirrus SR22T when it went down in a wooded area near Macon County Airport.
Flight tracking data indicate the aircraft took off from an airport in Nashville, and the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash, according to officials.
Jesus Take the Wheel earned James a Grammy Award for Best Country Song when recorded by Carrie Underwood, and the song was also nominated for Song of the Year, marking a defining moment in both of their careers.
Carrie Underwood reacted to James's death, saying the loss is unfathomable and describing him as a cool, generous partner whose songs about Jesus felt genuine and pure. She said she would think of him whenever performing those songs.
Jason Aldean, who recorded The Truth, written by James, said he was heartbroken and that James helped change his life, expressing prayers for the songwriter's family.
Paul Williams, president of ASCAP, praised James as a songwriting force of nature, noting that he wrote more than 500 songs across genres.
James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020 and won ASCAP's songwriter of the year in 2006 and 2010.
Over the course of his career, James wrote for a wide range of artists, including Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi and Jason Aldean.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the probe into the crash, and investigators have not yet disclosed a cause.