Carrie Underwood turned to social media Friday to remember Brett James, the acclaimed songwriter who helped write her Grammy-winning 2005 hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
James, 57, died Thursday in a devastating plane crash that also claimed the lives of two other people.
The 42-year-old American Idol champion had worked closely with James and shared an emotional, deeply personal tribute following his death.
“Some losses are impossible to comprehend,” Underwood wrote. “What Brett’s death means for his family, his friends and the entire music community is more painful than words can express.”
Remembering his personality, she described James as the very definition of “cool,” recalling how he would arrive at her cabins on his motorcycle for songwriting sessions. Even after spending hours wearing a helmet, she said, his hair somehow remained perfectly styled.
Underwood also fondly recalled hearing James perform “Cowboy Casanova.” She noted that the bold, playful song about a sassy woman might have seemed unlikely coming from such a macho man, yet James made it sound completely natural.
Carrie Underwood remembered Brett James, who co-wrote her Grammy-winning 2005 hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” in an emotional social media tribute
Brett James, pictured in 2005, died at 57 in a plane crash Thursday alongside two other people
The country star went on to share a story that illustrated the songwriter’s generosity during one of their collaborations.
Calling James “a good guy,” Underwood remembered working on a song that he had largely completed before arriving at their writing session.
She said they added some finishing touches and developed part of the melody together, but she felt the songwriting credit should reflect that James had done most of the work. James disagreed, insisting they divide the credit equally. “He was simply that kind of person,” Underwood wrote.
Underwood also reflected on James’ deep Christian faith, describing it as a source of comfort for those mourning him.
“Brett loved the Lord,” she wrote, adding that the pair had even had the opportunity to sing together at church.
The Oklahoma native told her 13.4 million followers that her favorite songs with James were the ones centered on Jesus because their emotions and message felt especially sincere. She said she would never perform those songs again without being reminded of him.
According to WLOS, James was flying his Cirrus SR22T when the aircraft crashed near a school in Franklin, North Carolina, at approximately 3 p.m.
James and the two other people aboard—his girlfriend, 59-year-old Melody Wilson, and her 28-year-old daughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson—were pronounced dead at the scene.
Songwriters Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey, Carrie Underwood, Zach Crowell and Brett James pictured together on August 11, 2016
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame announced James’ death; he was inducted into the organization in 2020 and is pictured in Nashville in 2022
Underwood said James’ death had created an emptiness among everyone who knew him—one she feared would never fully disappear.
She added that his passing would remain a lasting reminder of how brief life can be and the importance of making the most of every day. “Each day is a gift,” she wrote.
She solemnly continued, ‘I’m asking all of you to pray for his family, friends and all of us that were blessed enough to know Brett.’
And finally, she wrote, ‘Love you, man. I’ll see you again someday.’
