Recommendations of the Editorial team
The singer and songwriter Brett James died at the age of 57 in a plane crash. James worked with some well-known musicians in his career: inside and wrote 27 number one hits in the course of his career. Now countless people express their grief about the death of the musician.
On September 18, the musician’s small aircraft started in Nashville. But only a little later the machine crashed in a field near the IoTla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, North Carolina.
In addition to the songwriter, there were two other people on board who also did not survive the fall. Media such as “Metro” report that the national traffic safety authority will initiate an investigation of the accident.
Memories of a great songwriter
The Nashville Songwriters Association International said that it was “shaken about the death of its board member and legendary songwriters”. And the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame added: “We mourn the much too early death of our Hall of Fame member Brett James”.
The copyright organization ASCAP said: “Brett was a trustworthy partner of the biggest names of country music and a real advocate of the songwriter. We miss him very much.”
Country star Trish Biondo wrote: “The news breaks my heart … he was only 57 years old. He was such a good person”. And singer Sara Evans also expressed her grief. She wrote on Instagram: “I am completely shaken about the loss of one of the best songwriters I have ever worked with and have recorded several of his songs. BoF James. I pray for his relatives. What a tragic and sad day. We will be very lacking.”
A fan emphasized the range of the songwriter: “I was one of the children who looked at the Liner Notes to find out who had written the songs. Mostly the name Brett James stood there. Anyone who has heard country radio in the past 30 years knows his songs only 57 years old. Quiet in peace.”
The legacy of Brett James
The 57-year-old musician released his own, self-titled album in 1995 and released five singles over the course of eight years, who made it all into the Billboard Country charts.
James wrote a total of almost 500 songs, including 27 number one hits, and worked with artists such as Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson and Bon Jovi. “Jesus, Take the Wheel” (2005) by Carrie Underwood is still considered his best -known song, who gave him a Grammy in the “Best Country Song” category in 2007. In addition, James has been appointed ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year (2006 and 2010). In 2020 he was included in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.