Country Music Mourns the Loss of Songwriter Brett James in Tragic Plane Crash
The country music community is grieving the sudden death of Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, who died in a plane crash in Franklin, North Carolina, along with his wife, Melody Wilson, and her daughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson. The private Cirrus SR22T jet went down Thursday afternoon, killing all three on board.
The heartbreak deepened as Meryl had just celebrated her 28th birthday the day before. Melody’s loving birthday message to her daughter, shared on social media, read: “Happy Birthday my Love!! How Blessed am I to be your Momma! You’re the MOST BEAUTIFUL AMAZING HUMAN inside and out!”
Brett and Melody had been together for several years and married in August 2021. Their blended family shared joyful moments online, now overshadowed by this heartbreaking loss.
Brett James leaves a lasting legacy in country music. He co-wrote hits for stars like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, including the iconic “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” Beyond songwriting, James released five singles on the Billboard country chart and was highly respected in Nashville.
He is survived by four adult children from a previous marriage. Family, friends, and fans across Nashville and North Carolina mourn a love story and career cut tragically short.
