Kirk Herbstreit remembers Brett James: “It was a legend”

Country music fans cry the loss of the songwriter of a Grammy, Brett James, who died in a plane crash in North Carolina. He was 57 years old.

The long composition credits of James include the hit by Carrie Underwood, “Jesus, Take the Wheel”.

The small plane with three people on board crashed Thursday afternoon “in unknown circumstances” in the woods near Franklin, said Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a preliminary report. There were no survivors, said North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

James was on a Cirrus SR22T, which was written to him under his legal name by Brett James Cornelius, according to the information provided by the FAA. We didn’t know if he was the pilot. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed its death.

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Brett James performs on stage at the Music City Center on October 14, 2019 in Nashville. (Danielle del Valle / Getty Images)

The longtime analyst of ESPN College Football Kirk Herbstreit was one of those who paid tribute to James. Herbstreit described James as an incredible person.

“I called a match last night when I learned the news on a text that Brett was in an airplane accident and I did not do it. Living in Nashville, I was lucky to meet many incredible people … Brett was certainly that-one of the most talented and yet humble and earth-to-terre guys that I met”, the old quarterrière of Ohio State Written on X.

The plane had taken off from John C. Tune airport in Nashville. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they would investigate the accident.

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James was inducted into the renowned temple of the Nashville songwriters in 2020. The organization published an online statement having its death.

The singer-songwriter Brett James performs on stage during the central stage of the Ascap “I Create Music” 2016 on April 28, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Images Tommaso Boddi / Getty for ASCAP)

Herbstreit added that James had played a few years ago during his birthday celebration. He said he was the heart broken by the death of James.

“He was a legend as a singer -songwriter and one of the most respected people in this city. He sang at my 50th with Casey Beathard – a man so good. Just tearing – my thoughts and my prayers are with his family and his friends while they are facing this imputable reality,” wrote Herbstreit.

Kirk Herbstreit on the sidelines before a match “Thursday evening of football” at the Fedex Field on October 5, 2023, in Landover, MD. (Cooper Neill / Getty Images)

James had more than 500 of his songs recorded for albums with combined sales of more than 110 million copies, according to his biography of Grand Ole Opry online.

The other artists who sang his songs include Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban and Meghan Trainor.

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Country singer Jason Aldean also honored James and credited him with having had a deep impact on his life.

“The broken heart to hear about the loss of my friend Brett James tonight,” posted Aldean on X. “I only had love and respect for this guy and he helped change my life. Honoré to have met him and worked with him.”

James recorded his own album in 2020.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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