Singer/songwriter Brett James killed in small plane crash ( English and Italian text)

We learnt yesterday, on NBC News Now, that Brett James, the acclaimed country music songwriter,  tragically died in a small-plane crash on September 18, 2025, near Franklin, North Carolina — at age 57.

The aircraft, a Cirrus SR22T registered in his legal name Brett James Cornelius, departed Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport and crashed around 3 PM Eastern near Iotla Valley Elementary School, Franklin, NC.

Two other individuals aboard—his wife, Melody Carole Wilson, and her adult daughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson—also died.

The FAA and NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) are actively investigating the cause of the crash.

Brett James co-wrote iconic hits like “Jesus, Take the Wheel” (Carrie Underwood) and “When the Sun Goes Down” (Kenny Chesney).

During his career, more than 500 of his songs were recorded by major artists—including Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Meghan Trainor, Taylor Swift, and more—resulting in over 110 million album sales .

He earned a Grammy in 2006 for Best Country Song with “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.

The music community has poured out heartfelt tributes.  Carrie Underwood expressed deep grief, calling his loss “infathomable” and shared memories of their songwriting partnership and spiritual connection through music. Fellow artists Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean and  Martina McBride among others, also remembered him for his talent, generosity, and influence on their careers and Nashville’s songwriting community.

Abbiamo appreso ieri dalla NBC News Now che Brett James, il celebre cantautore country, è morto tragicamente in un incidente aereo il 18 settembre 2025, vicino a Franklin, nella Carolina del Nord, all’età di 57 anni.

L’aereo, un Cirrus SR22T registrato legalmente a suo nome come Brett James Cornelius, era partito dall’aeroporto John C. Tune di Nashville ed è precipitato intorno alle 15:00 (ora locale) nei pressi della Iotla Valley Elementary School, a Franklin, NC.

A bordo c’erano anche sua moglie, Melody Carole Wilson, e la figlia di lei, Meryl Maxwell Wilson: tutti e tre hanno perso la vita nello schianto.

La FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) e la NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) stanno indagando per accertare le cause dello schianto.

Co-autore di successi iconici come “Jesus, Take the Wheel” (Carrie Underwood) e “When the Sun Goes Down” (Kenny Chesney), più di  500 sue canzoni sono state registrate da grandi artisti, tra cui Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Meghan Trainor, Taylor Swift e molti altri, risultate in oltre 110 milioni di album venduti.

Nel 2006 vinse il Grammy per la Miglior Canzone Country con “Jesus, Take the Wheel” ed è stato conferito nella Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame nel 2020.

La comunità musicale ha espresso innumerevoli commossi tributi. Carrie Underwood, profondamente addolorata e definendo la sua perdita “inconcepibile”, ha condiviso ricordi del loro rapporto di autori e il legame spirituale attraverso la musica.

Anche Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Martina McBride e altri hanno condiviso ricordi e condoglianze, ricordando Brett per il suo talento, generosità e l’enorme influenza che ha avuto sulle loro carriere e l’intera comunità dei cantautori di Nashville.