Carrie Underwood Grieves the Passing of Brett James, Writer of ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’

That’s a powerful, emotional line — it would work well as Carrie Underwood’s tribute quote to Brett James.

Carrie Underwood Mourns the Loss of ‘Jesus, Take The Wheel’ Songwriter Brett James: “Some Things Are Just Unfathomable”

Carrie Underwood is grieving the tragic loss of Brett James, the Grammy-winning songwriter behind her breakout hit “Jesus, Take The Wheel.”

James, 57, was one of three people killed in a small plane crash on Thursday, Sept. 18. In a moving statement shared on social media, Underwood remembered her friend and collaborator as a one-of-a-kind talent and a man of deep faith.

“Some things are just unfathomable. The loss of Brett James to his family, friends and our music community is too great to put into words,” she wrote alongside a slideshow of photos featuring the two together in the studio and at events.

Calling James “the epitome of cool,” Underwood recalled his effortless style and humor. “I see him in my mind riding up to my cabins to write on his motorcycle… his hair somehow perfectly coiffed despite being under a helmet for however long. I always loved hearing him sing ‘Cowboy Casanova’ because a sassy girl anthem should’ve sounded ridiculous coming from a macho dude like him, but somehow, he even made that cool.”

Underwood also praised James’ humility and generosity as a collaborator. “I remember writing with him on a song that he basically wrote 75% of and had ready when he walked in the room. We filled in the blanks and added a little melody and I told him after that I didn’t feel right splitting the credit evenly when he did most of the work. He wouldn’t have it. He insisted that everything be equal. He was just that kind of guy…”

Their bond, she said, extended beyond music. “Brett loved the Lord. Which is the only comfort we can hold on to now. We even had the pleasure of singing together at church. My favorite songs to sing of ours are the ones that he or we wrote about Jesus because the thoughts and feelings behind them are so genuine and pure. I won’t ever sing one note of them again without thinking of him.”

James, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, penned hundreds of hits for artists across country and pop, but his work with Underwood remains among his most enduring. “Jesus, Take The Wheel” won him a Grammy and an ACM Award and became one of the singer’s most beloved and career-defining songs. He also co-wrote “Cowboy Casanova,” a chart-topping single that showcased Underwood’s fiery side.

“Brett was a good guy,” Underwood concluded. “His songs will live on, but so will his kindness, his faith, and his spirit.”