The acclaimed country music songwriter Brett James has died aged 57 in a plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday, authorities have confirmed.

James, who won a Grammy Award for penning Carrie Underwood’s breakthrough hit Jesus, Take The Wheel, was amongst three people who perished when their aircraft went down near Franklin at approximately 3pm local time.

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, which inducted James in 2020, confirmed his death in a social media post on Thursday evening.

No one aboard the small aircraft survived the crash, according to local authorities and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The single-engine Cirrus SR22T aircraft crashed in a field west of Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, Macon County, with the impact occurring on neighbouring property to the school.

The Macon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that all pupils and staff at the elementary school remained safe and unharmed during the incident.

Flight records indicate the plane had departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville at approximately 12.41pm before the fatal crash occurred.

The FAA confirmed the aircraft was registered to Brett Cornelius of Brentwood, Tennessee – James’ full legal name.

Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the cause of the crash.

James’ remarkable songwriting career spanned over 500 recorded tracks and 27 chart-topping singles on country radio, establishing him as one of Nashville’s most sought-after collaborators.

Beyond “Jesus, Take The Wheel”, which earned him the 2007 Grammy for Best Country Song, James crafted numerous hits including Kenny Chesney’s “When the Sun Goes Down”, Dierks Bentley’s “I Hold On”, Martina McBride’s “Blessed”, and Jason Aldean’s “The Truth”.

His songwriting prowess extended beyond country music, with credits for artists including Bon Jovi, Backstreet Boys, The Fray and Daughtry.

The Missouri-born songwriter was twice honoured as ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year in 2006 and 2010.

Fellow pilot Dierks Bentley paid tribute to James on social media, calling him “a total legend” and crediting their collaboration on “I Hold On” with changing his life.

“Our friendship and that song changed my life,” Bentley wrote, explaining how James helped shape the track following his father’s death.

Born Brett James Cornelius on June 5, 1968 in Columbia, Missouri, James initially pursued medical studies at the University of Oklahoma before abandoning his degree to move to Nashville in 1992.

He is survived by his wife Sandra Cornelius and their children, having posted a family photograph on social media in June captioned “Such an amazing Father’s Day!!”