BREAKING: Nashville Songwriter Hall Of Famer Brett James Passes

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Brett James

Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member Brett James tragically died in a private plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday (Sept. 18). He was 57.

With more than 500 songs recorded throughout his career, Brett celebrated 27 No. 1s, a Grammy win for his mega Carrie Underwood hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” and was named ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year in 2006 and 2010. His songs have been cut by country artists like Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts, to pop stars Bon Jovi, Backstreet Boys, Kelly Clarkson and Leona Lewis.

He was born Brett James Cornelius in Columbia, Missouri, but grew up in Oklahoma. His parents were musical—his father was a physician and a singer and his mother was a classically-trained pianist. Brett played guitar, piano, saxophone and drums, and sang in church and with a touring youth group

He was also a good student. After graduating from Baylor University, he started medical school at the University of Oklahoma but eventually left to pursue his musical passion in Nashville in 1992.

He first began his journey in music as a recording artist, spending several years signed to Arista/Career and releasing his self-titled debut album in 1995. After three singles and two music videos failed to gain traction on the charts, the label let him go—a setback that left him ready to give up music altogether and return to medical school in 1999. He re-enrolled in Oklahoma, but just two days into classes, he got word that Faith Hill had recorded his song “Love Is a Sweet Thing.” Within the next seven months, 28 more of his songs were recorded by country artists, pulling him firmly back into Nashville’s music scene.

Reinvigorated, Brett signed with Arista again and notched top 40 hits with 2002’s “Chasin’ Amy” and 2003’s “After All.”

Brett’s legacy as a professional songwriter kicked off with his co-written Jessica Andrews’ hit “Who I Am,” which became his first No. 1 in 2001. “Blessed” by Martina McBride quickly followed. Then came Rascal Flatts’ “Love You Out Loud,” Josh Gracin’s “I Want to Live” and Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker’s “When the Sun Goes Down.” The chart-topping “Jesus Take The Wheel,” sung by a new American Idol star Carrie Underwood, earned Brett the 2006 Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as the 2005 ACM Single of the Year, the 2006 ASCAP Country Song of the Year and the 2006 NSAI Song of the Year.

Brett became a first-call songwriter on Music Row, with such hits as “Cowboy Casanova” by Underwood, “The Truth” by Jason Aldean, “It’s America” by Rodney Atkins, “Summer Nights” by Rascal Flatts, “The Man I Want To Be” by Chris Young, “Bottoms Up” by Brantley Gilbert and “I Hold On” by Dierks Bentley, among many more. He had many more hits with Chesney, including “Out Last Night,” “Reality,” “Trip Around the Sun,” “This Is Our Moment,” “Flip-Flop Summer,” “You Save Me” and “Knowing You.” He also had success in other genres, like Kelly Clarkson’s chart-topper “Mr. Know It All” and Paulina Rubio’s latin hit “The One You Love (Todo Mi Amor),” as well as songs recorded by Bon Jovi, Steven Tyler, Jessica Simpson, Chicago, Daughtry and The Backstreet Boys.

In addition to his success as a songwriter, Brett also produced records including We Weren’t Crazy by Josh Gracin, Why Wait by Kristy Lee Cook, Do You Know by Jessica Simpson, Up All Night by Kip Moore and more.

Brett served as Owner/CEO of Cornman Music, a successful music publishing company in Nashville. He was selected for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020, and released his self-written album titled I Am Now the same year.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Brett was a fixture in the Nashville music community. He frequently played songwriter rounds, mentored younger writers, educated the public about the challenges facing professional songwriters and devoted his time to industry organizations and charity events. Friends and colleagues often described him as generous with his talent and knowledge, always eager to lift up the next generation.

It was revealed following the crash that Brett was flying with his wife, Melody Carole Wilson, and step daughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson, who also perished.

LB Cantrell
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