Grammy-Winning Artist Feared Dead After Horrific Plane Crash—Here’s Everything We Know

Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, 57, was killed Thursday afternoon when the single-engine Cirrus SR22T he was piloting went down in a wooded area near Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina, at about 3 p.m. local time. His wife Sandy and 19-year-old step-daughter Lauren also perished in the crash, according to the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. What happened • Radar data show the aircraft departed Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport at 12:07 p.m. en route to Wilmington, North Carolina. • Witnesses reported hearing the engine “sputter” before the plane spiraled into dense forest roughly two miles from Franklin Elementary School. • No distress call was recorded. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have launched a joint investigation, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days. About Brett James James earned the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Country Song for co-writing Carrie Underwood’s crossover hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” Over a 25-year career he notched more than 500 cuts, including Kenny Chesney’s “When the Sun Goes Down,” Jason Aldean’s “The Truth,” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Mr. Know It All.” He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020 and had 30 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. A seasoned pilot Friends say James had logged more than 1,000 flight hours and frequently flew himself to writing retreats and tour stops. The SR22T he purchased in 2022 was equipped with a whole-airframe parachute, but officials confirmed the safety system was not deployed. Industry reaction • Carrie Underwood posted: “Heartbroken. Brett’s songs changed my life; his friendship changed my heart.” • Nashville Songwriters Association called him “a beacon of melody, meaning and generosity.” • Country star Kenny Chesney wrote, “We lost a storyteller and a brother in the sky today.” What investigators will examine 1. Possible engine failure or fuel contamination. 2. Weather: scattered clouds, light winds, visibility 10 miles at the time of impact. 3. Maintenance records; the aircraft’s last annual inspection was in May 2025. 4. Pilot decision-making and weight-and-balance calculations. Legacy and streaming bump Within two hours of the news, streams of “Jesus, Take the Wheel” on Spotify spiked 1,200 %, while Pandora added a Brett James tribute station to its front page. Publishers predict a surge in catalog searches as fans revisit his extensive discography. FAQ for searchers • Who was Brett James? A Grammy-winning Nashville songwriter behind hits for Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney and dozens more. • Where did the plane crash? A forested ridge outside Franklin, North Carolina. • What type of plane crashed? A Cirrus SR22T single-engine aircraft. • Are investigators looking at mechanical failure? Yes; the FAA and NTSB are analyzing engine parts and flight data. The crash site remains secured as investigators recover avionics and the ballistic parachute housing. Memorial details are pending, but the family has asked that donations be made to MusiCares in lieu of flowers.