Core Points - Brett James, a renowned Grammy-winning songwriter in the country music industry, tragically passed away in a small plane crash on September 18 at the age of 57 [2][4]. Group 1: Incident Details - The Cirrus SR22T single-engine aircraft, registered in Brett James's name, took off from Nashville, Tennessee, at 12:41 PM and crashed around 3 PM in a field near a school in Macon County, North Carolina [4]. - Along with Brett James, his girlfriend and his 28-year-old daughter were also on board, and all three lost their lives in the accident [4]. - The crash occurred close to a school, but fortunately, there were no injuries reported on the ground [4]. Group 2: Personal Background - Brett James had a significant net worth, owning a $2 million mansion and a small plane; the flight was speculated to be part of a celebration for his daughter's birthday, which was the day before the crash [6]. - He had previously been married and had four children, three of whom were not involved in the flight on that day [6]. Group 3: Career Achievements - Brett James was a prolific songwriter, having written over 800 songs and contributed to albums that sold more than 110 million copies, earning him the title of a soul figure in American country music [6]. - His notable works include "Jesus, Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood, which not only helped Underwood reach the pinnacle of country music but also won them the Grammy Award for Best Country Song [6]. - He co-wrote "A Perfectly Good Heart" with Taylor Swift for her debut album, showcasing his influence on emerging artists in the country genre [8].