The crash is under investigation
Prolific Nashville songwriter Brett James Cornelius was killed in a small-engine airplane crash today (Thurs, Sept 18th) near Franklin, North Carolina. Authorities confirmed that none of the three on board survived. Details of the crash are limited as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigate. The plane was registered to Cornelius of Brentwood, Tennessee.
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, which James was inducted into in 2020, revealed the news.
“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. He was 57,” the organization shares on social media.
The Columbia, Missouri native had over 800 of his songs recorded by various artists, with his compositions contributing to albums that have sold more than 110 million copies. He penned numerous hit singles, including 27 that reached No. 1 on the charts. Among his most notable hits are Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel,” “Cowboy Casanova,” and “Something in the Water,” Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker’s “When The Sun Goes Down,” Jason Aldean’s “The Truth,” and Martina McBride’s “Blessed.”
James won a Grammy in 2007 for “Jesus, Take the Wheel” in the Best Country Song category. He was named ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year in both 2006 and 2010.
Beyond songwriting, James also worked as a record producer, with credits for artists like Taylor Swift and Jessica Simpson. He was also the owner of a successful publishing company, Cornman Music, and served on the board of the Country Music Association (CMA), National Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and The Recording Academy.
