Carrie Underwood Honors Late “Jesus Take the Wheel” Writer Brett James

by

Carrie Underwood is remembering a beloved collaborator.

Carrie Underwood recently honored Brett James, the co-writer of her 2005 hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” following his death in a plane crash in North Carolina on September 18th.

Underwood shared on Instagram on September 19th that some losses are simply beyond comprehension. She expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Brett James, saying the pain felt by his family, friends, and the music world is immeasurable.

She wrote that Brett’s death has left a deep sadness that she doesn’t think will ever fully heal. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly life passes and how important it is to cherish every day, as each one is a precious gift.

Kerry Washington, 42, fondly remembered James Gandolfini, 57, describing him as incredibly cool and a genuinely kind person.

This was particularly evident in their professional partnership, which resulted in him winning a Grammy for Best Country Song and her receiving one for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, both for the song “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Oh my gosh, I was SO lucky to even *be* in the room with him while we worked on this song! He basically walked in with most of it already done – like, 75% finished! We just filled in a few details and I added a little to the melody, but honestly, it was mostly *him*. I immediately told him I didn’t feel right taking half the credit when he’d done the heavy lifting, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He was so incredibly generous and insisted we split it right down the middle. That’s just the kind of person he was – unbelievably humble and kind, even when he deserved all the recognition.

As someone who’s seen a lot of talent and a lot of life, I was really touched by James’s strong faith. It reminded me that, especially in challenging times, our connection to something bigger than ourselves – for James, that’s his love of God – is what truly sustains us. It’s a beautiful thing to witness, and honestly, it’s the one thing that offers real comfort when everything else feels uncertain.

She added that they even enjoyed singing together at church. She especially loved the songs they wrote about Jesus, finding the emotions and ideas behind them to be truly heartfelt and sincere. She knows she’ll always remember him whenever she sings those songs again.

The singer concluded by asking his fans to keep his family in their thoughts, and finished with a heartfelt, “I love you all, and I hope to see you again.”

I was absolutely heartbroken to hear about the plane crash that took the life of James, along with two wonderful women, Melody Carole and Meryl Maxwell Wilson. His plane departed from Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport on September 18th, and tragically went down about 270 miles away in North Carolina. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed the devastating news to NBC News, and it’s just a terrible loss for everyone who loved his music.

The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) is investigating the incident.

Read More

2025-09-20 05:17