Dierks Bentley mourns songwriter Brett James after fatal plane crash in North Carolina

Dierks Bentley pays tribute to songwriter Brett James, who died at 57 in a North Carolina plane crash on Sept. 18.

Country star Dierks Bentley is honoring Brett James, the Grammy-winning songwriter behind Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” following James’ death in a plane crash.

James, 57, was one of three people killed when a single-engine Cirrus SR22T aircraft crashed in Franklin, North Carolina, on September 18.

The plane, which departed from Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport, went down near Iotla Valley Elementary School. No one on the ground was injured, but all three passengers died. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash.

James’ career spanned three decades, beginning with his own self-titled debut album in 1995 before transitioning into songwriting in the early 2000s. His catalog includes hits for Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson, and Taylor Swift, cementing him as one of Nashville’s most versatile writers.

Among his most notable collaborations was with Bentley on the 2013 single “I Hold On.” The platinum-certified track became a No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and remains one of Bentley’s signature songs.

In an Instagram tribute, Bentley, 49, shared a photo of himself with James, calling him “one of the best singer-songwriters in our town” and a “total legend.” Reflecting on their songwriting process, Bentley credited James with shaping the chorus of “I Hold On” shortly after the death of his father in 2012, saying their collaboration “changed my life.”

James’ influence extended far beyond his own work, with contributions that defined country music for a generation. His sudden passing leaves a lasting void in Nashville’s songwriting community.