Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James has died in a plane crash at the age of 57.
James, who won the coveted music award for his work on Carrie Underwood’s song ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ was aboard a plane that crashed in Macon County near to Franklin, North Carolina.
Authorities have stated that none of the three passengers survived the crash.
Brett James was a well-respected figure in the music industryAccording to WLOS, Macon County dispatch confirmed that a plane crash occurred near to an elementary school in Franklin at around 3:00pm ET on Thursday, 18 September, killing everyone on board.
The police released a statement confirming that the children in the school were all safe, writing: "To the parents that have children that attend Iotla school.
"The students, and staff are safe.
"There was an airplane accident on the neighboring property.
"Again all students and staff are safe."
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) three people were on board at the time of the crash and the plane was registered under the name of Brett Cornelius of Brentwood, Tennessee.
The musician’s full name is Brett James Cornelius.
James is mourned by the music industry following his tragic deathThe musician was known for a number of hit songs and, as well as working with Underwood, he also worked with Kenny Chesney on his 2004 hit ‘When The Sun Goes Down’.
James also worked with artists like Rascal Flatts and Bon Jovi.
The 57-year-old was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020, and the organization paid tribute to the late songsmith after his sad passing.
On Facebook, the Nashville Hall of Fame wrote: “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.”
In a further statement, the Hall of Fame said: “The NSAI family is stunned by the death of board member and legendary songwriter Brett James,
"The loss is profound."
An investigation has been launched into the crash that caused James’ death, the National Transportation Safety Board has confirmed.
Tributes hvae flooded in from fans and sympathizers, with one person writing: "Such a tragic loss.
"Brett James was as kind as he was smart, as humble as he was talented.
"I first met him through the Nashville Songwriters Association International, where, as a pro writer, he had agreed to present a lesson to aspiring songwriters at our Pro Teacher Night.
"The venue was the former studio of The Music Mill, an airless room with no windows never meant to hold 100 breathless souls gathered to study their craft.
"A hit songwriter with hundreds of cuts to his name, he surely had a full schedule, but he was happy to be there, to give back. He told the group he had tried - twice - to get a real job, but medical school couldn’t hold him.
"Nashville was the better for it.
"Blessings to all who loved him."
Fellow songwriter Cody Lee simply wrote: "So sad... one of the best."