Country Songwriter Brett James, Girlfriend, and Her Daughter Killed in North Carolina Plane Crash

Songwriter Brett James, 57, died alongside his girlfriend Melody Wilson, 59, when his plane crashed in North Carolina

Renowned country songwriter Brett James, 57, died in a plane crash in Franklin, North Carolina, alongside his longtime girlfriend Melody Wilson, 59, and her daughter, 28-year-old Meryl Maxwell Wilson. Officials confirmed the tragic accident occurred Thursday when James’ single-engine Cirrus SR22T went down near Iotla Valley Elementary School around 3 p.m. No students or staff were injured.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. The plane had departed from Nashville, where James and Wilson lived together in a $2 million home.

Wilson's daughter, Meryl, 28, was also killed when the small plane crashed on Thursday

Just one day before the crash, Melody Wilson celebrated her daughter’s birthday in a heartfelt social media post, calling Meryl “the MOST BEAUTIFUL AMAZING HUMAN inside and out.” On her own Instagram, Meryl wrote that she was “28 years old, 142 days sober, extremely happy to be here.”

Brett James, a Missouri native born on June 5, 1968, leaves behind four adult children from his marriage to ex-wife Sandra Cornelius. James and Melody had been in a relationship for several years, frequently sharing their travels online.

No one onboard the small Cessna survived the impact of the collision

James was a celebrated figure in country music, best known for penning Carrie Underwood’s Grammy-winning “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and Jason Aldean’s “The Truth.” He also wrote hits for artists including Taylor Swift, Jessica Andrews, Bon Jovi, Nick Jonas, and the Backstreet Boys. His career spanned more than 800 recorded songs, cementing his reputation as one of Nashville’s most prolific songwriters.

Before pursuing music, James was on track to become a doctor but left medical school to sign with Arista Nashville’s Career Records, releasing his debut solo album in 1995. His first No. 1 hit came in 2001 with Jessica Andrews’ “Who I Am.” His breakthrough with Underwood in 2005 propelled him to industry acclaim.

The hitmaker was remembered for his country tunes, including Underwood's Grammy-winning Jesus, Take The Wheel

James earned the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year award twice and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020, calling the honor “truly the greatest of my life.” Beyond songwriting, he was a producer, publisher, and board member of the Country Music Association and the Recording Academy.

Tributes poured in following the news of his death. Singer Sara Evans wrote that she was “absolutely devastated at the loss of one of the best writers I’ve ever written with,” while songwriter Jessi Alexander reflected on “many fun nights on stage we shared and memories we made traveling around making music together,” adding, “Music Row will never be the same.” ASCAP also mourned James’ passing, remembering him as a “trusted collaborator to country’s greatest names and a true advocate for songwriters.”

NC. Cirrus SR22T #N218VB