Brett James, songwriter turned granite of country music, sadly met his mortality in a small aircraft accident in the land of the Tar Heel State, the United States of America. What a legacy of hits this man left to the world! 57 years were more than enough for him to not only represent his generation with his songs but also to make sure that they would never be forgotten. James departed this world.
An Awful Event in North Carolina
September 18 was the unfortunate day when this single-engine Cirrus SR22T lost control and hit the ground close to Franklin, North Carolina, thus claiming the lives of all three people in the plane. A tragedy occurred, resulting in the death of Brett James, Melody Carole, and Meryl Maxwell Wilson. This aircraft crashed near Iotla Valley Elementary School; luckily, there were no people harmed on the ground.
Probes in Progress
The FAA, the NTSB, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol are thoroughly investigating the events that led to the catastrophe. According to the witnesses, the massive explosion could be heard just before the aircraft hit the ground, and small parts of the plane were scattered around a field close to Macon County Airport. Officers are gathering the necessary evidence, and then they will undergo the first step in drawing their report after a month.
Beyond the Headlines
Despite the terrifying incidents, the media concentrates much on the crash; on the other hand, the music industry and fans never cease to recall the man behind it all. Brett James was only a short airway distress away from death; however, the man was in no way less than an extraordinary country music top songwriter.
Never to Forget the Years of Breakfast
The energies of life at the beginning of the 2000s were redirected toward James’ career with the help of the three albums: “Who I Am” by Jessica Andrews, “Blessed” by Martina McBride, and “Love You Out Loud” by Rascal Flatts. The following hit was “When the Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney, which turned out to be very successful. Then, James was not only a “country hitmaker” but he also “headed the list of country hitmakers” too.
A Grammy and an Iconic Song
To a large extent, one of the artist’s most recognizable pieces was presumably associated with Carrie Underwood’s debut hit single, “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” Consequently, apart from winning him a Grammy award in 2006, the single went on to be a contemporary classic, thus redefining country music history was redefined.
A Catalog That Spanned Generations
On the whole, James was the primary source behind the creation of discographies for almost all the genre’s leading stars, such as Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, and Brantley Gilbert, to mention just a few. His songs like “Cowboy Casanova,” “I Hold On,” and “Bottoms Up” not only became popular among fans but also had an international appeal among country music lovers.
Crossing Genres with Ease
Nevertheless, he was not limited to the country only. Brett James was one of the contributors to the works of pop icons such as Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, and the Backstreet Boys, too. He was a very versatile songwriter in the industry whose blending of deft and heartfelt lyrics with commercial appeal made him a very appealing choice for collaborations.
A Mentor and Advocate
Besides being a very prolific writer, James was very interested in the future of music as well. He used his position as the president of Cornman Music and as a member of the board of CMA and The Recording Academy to nurture and guide the youth and to increase songwriters’ rights and visibility.
Tributes from Across the Industry
There are various tributes to him, and these are not only numerous but also heartfelt. Dierks Bentley praised him as a “total legend.” Sara Evans described James as “one of the best writers I’ve ever worked with.” ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit talked about James’ modesty and brilliance, thus demonstrating how far James’ influence reached outside of music.
From Missouri Roots to Nashville Icon
Musically, he was a genius without a doubt as he also played the guitar, piano, drums, and saxophone in a quite natural way. His ternary music career in medical school in the middle of life was a bit of a fling and turned out to be a great decision for the farmboy from Missouri who was more talented musically than he had ever imagined. He certainly transformed country music history with his very decisive move back to Nashville.
His death is terrible; nevertheless, his songs will still be played on the radio, at concerts, and they will always remain in the hearts of those who were touched by them, people who found comfort, joy, and inspiration in his lyrics. His music was not only for fun; it was a present, and it will be with us for a very long period of time.