{"id":194053,"date":"2025-09-19T15:22:44","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T15:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/19\/brett-james-cause-of-death-taylor-swift-carrie-underwood-collaborator-passes-away-at-57\/"},"modified":"2025-09-19T15:22:44","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T15:22:44","slug":"brett-james-cause-of-death-taylor-swift-carrie-underwood-collaborator-passes-away-at-57","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/19\/brett-james-cause-of-death-taylor-swift-carrie-underwood-collaborator-passes-away-at-57\/","title":{"rendered":"Brett James Cause of Death: Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood Collaborator Passes Away at 57"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>We have tragic news to report from the world of music today.<\/p>\n<p>Brett James \u2014 the singer-songwriter best known for his collaborations with Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, and Taylor Swift \u2014 has passed away.<\/p>\n<p>He was just 57 years old.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"793\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-169226842-1024x793.jpg\" alt=\"Singer\/ Songwriter Brett James performs during a rehearsal for the upcoming performace with the Boston Pops June,13,14 &amp; 15.  \" class=\"wp-image-535622 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-169226842-1024x793.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-169226842-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-169226842-768x595.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-169226842-2048x1586.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-169226842-960x743.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-169226842-1080x836.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-169226842-1200x929.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-169226842.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Singer\/ Songwriter Brett James performs during a rehearsal for the upcoming performace with the Boston Pops June,13,14 &amp; 15.  <span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo by Rick Diamond\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-brett-james-two-others-killed-in-horrific-accident\">Brett James, two others killed in horrific accident <\/h2>\n<p>News of James\u2019 death comes courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newschannel5.com\/news\/brett-james-national-songwriters-hall-of-fame-inductee-dies-in-plane-crash-at-57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WTVF<\/a> in Nashville, who reports that the beloved artist was one of three people aboard a Cirrus SR22T aircraft that crashed into an open field near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, North Carolina on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>The identities of the two other passengers have not yet been revealed.<\/p>\n<p>According to WTVF, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. We hope to have more information soon.<\/p>\n<p>James was an amateur pilot, but it\u2019s not clear if he was flying the plane.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-705x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Brett James performs onstage during SiriusXM's The Music Row Happy Hour Live On The Highway From Margaritaville on June 12, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. \" class=\"wp-image-535623\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-705x1024.jpg 705w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-207x300.jpg 207w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-768x1115.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-1410x2048.jpg 1410w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-661x960.jpg 661w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-744x1080.jpg 744w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-826x1200.jpg 826w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-scaled.jpg 1763w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-705x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Brett James performs onstage during SiriusXM's The Music Row Happy Hour Live On The Highway From Margaritaville on June 12, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. \" class=\"wp-image-535623 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-705x1024.jpg 705w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-207x300.jpg 207w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-768x1115.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-1410x2048.jpg 1410w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-661x960.jpg 661w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-744x1080.jpg 744w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-826x1200.jpg 826w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-scaled.jpg 1763w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1402523915-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brett James performs onstage during SiriusXM\u2019s The Music Row Happy Hour Live On The Highway From Margaritaville on June 12, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. <span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo by Jason Davis\/Getty Images for SiriusXM)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On social media, music industry figures across the country are mourning James, who has long enjoyed a reputation as one of country\u2019s most talented songwriters.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-an-epic-career-cut-short\">An epic career cut short<\/h2>\n<p>James\u2019 many credits include Underwood\u2019s \u201cJesus Take the Wheel,\u201d Swift\u2019s \u201cA Perfectly Good Heart,\u201d Brantley Gilbert\u2019s \u201cBottoms Up,\u201d and Rascal Flatts\u2019 \u201cSummer Nights.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>James attended medical school before dropping out in his second year to pursue songwriting full-time.<\/p>\n<p>He released a self-titled album in 1995, and over the next eight years, five of his singles reached Billboard\u2019s country chart.<\/p>\n<p>In the 2000s, James turned his attention to writing songs for other artists, collaborating with such big names as Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, and Bon Jovi.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"735\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-1024x735.jpg\" alt=\"Brett James performs during the 2013 CMA Songwriters Series at the CMA Theater on November 5, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee.  \" class=\"wp-image-535624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-1024x735.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-768x551.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-2048x1470.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-960x689.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-1080x775.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-1200x861.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"735\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-1024x735.jpg\" alt=\"Brett James performs during the 2013 CMA Songwriters Series at the CMA Theater on November 5, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee.  \" class=\"wp-image-535624 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-1024x735.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-768x551.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-2048x1470.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-960x689.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-1080x775.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-1200x861.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-187070759-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brett James performs during the 2013 CMA Songwriters Series at the CMA Theater on November 5, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee.  <span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo by Terry Wyatt\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>James is credited with a total of 27 number-one country hits, with Dierks Bentley\u2019s \u201cI Hold On\u201d being one of his most recent smashes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRest in peace, pal,\u201d Bentley said of James on Thursday, according to the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/09\/19\/entertainment\/country-music-songwriter-brett-james-among-3-dead-in-north-carolina-plane-crash-total-legend\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York Post<\/a><\/em>. \u201cTotal stud. Fellow aviator. One of the best singer-songwriters in our town\u2026.total legend.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bentley went on to credit James with helping him process the death of his father through music.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI brought a couple of roughly sketched verse ideas of \u2018I Hold On\u2019 to Brett after my dad died and he just did his thing. The chorus is all him. When I sing that song live, I\u2019m always thinking of my dad, but I also think about that day we wrote it. Prayers for his family,\u201d Bentley said.<\/p>\n<p>James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Our thoughts go out to his loved ones during this enormously difficult time.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2025\/09\/brett-james-cause-of-death-taylor-swift-carrie-underwood-collaborator-passes-away-at-57\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Time: 3 minutes We have tragic news to report from the world of music today. Brett James \u2014 the singer-songwriter best known for his collaborations with Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, and Taylor Swift \u2014 has passed away. He was just 57 years old. Singer\/ Songwriter Brett James performs during a rehearsal for the upcoming [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":194054,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-194053","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194053","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=194053"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194053\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/194054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=194053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=194053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=194053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}