Country music songwriter Brett James was one of three people killed in a small-engine plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday (Sept. 18).
The 57-year-old is most closely associated with kick-starting Carrie Underwood’s career and feeding her hit songs early and often, but he’s written dozens of hits for other artists like Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride.
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame confirmed James’ death with a post to social media on Thursday night.
The crash took place around 3PM local team in Franklin, N.C. (per WPDE-TV).
While it occurred near an elementary school, no children or staff at the school were harmed.
Who Was Brett James?
James co-wrote nearly a dozen songs for Underwood projects, including