 Inside Brett Jamesâ family heartbreak: Wife of Grammy-winning songwriter says she still âcannot believeâ the shocking plane crash that claimed his life â and reveals the final phone call that now haunts her
rett James, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter behind some of country musicâs biggest hits, died in a plane crash in North Carolina on September 17. He was 57 years old. The musician was killed alongside two other passengers, identified as Melody Carole and Meryl Maxwell Wilson, when the single-engine Cirrus SR22T aircraft they were traveling in from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, crashed near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, NC, according to WTVF. âA Cirrus SR22T crashed in a field in Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 18. Three people were on board,â the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement, adding it will investigate the incident with the National Transportation Safety Board.
The Macon County Sheriffâs Office confirmed that no students or staff at the school were injured from the crash. âTo the parents that have children that attend Iotla school. The students, and staff are safe. There was an airplane accident on the neighboring property. Again all students and staff are safe,â the sheriffâs office said in a statement on Facebook.
Family
Brett, who was born Brett James Cornelius, is survived by his wife, Sandra Cornelius, and their four children, three sons and a daughter named Clare. Not much is known about his private life, but he lived with his family in Nashville, Tennessee. One of his last posts on Instagram was a group photo of him and his loved ones on June 16, which he captioned: âSuch an amazing Fatherâs Day!!â
© InstagramHis song, âTrue Believerâ, about the relationship between a father and daughter, was inspired by his kids, especially his relationship with Clare. âI sort of loved watching them all cry as they listened to the song. My daughter and I will always have that moment, and we will always have that song,â he told American Songwriter.
© InstagramParents
Brett initially intended to follow in his physician father, Dr. Sam Corneliusâ footsteps and attended medical school at the University of Oklahoma before dropping out in his sophomore year to move to Nashville and pursue a music career after a friend helped him arrange meetings with three record labels. âTwo of them kind of patted me on the head and sent me packing, but the third one was with Arista Records, and at the time, they were the best record label around,â he told The Oklahoma in 2009.
© Getty ImagesWhile he didnât end up as a physician like his dad, who passed away in 2007, music did run in the family as Brettâs father was a talented singer and his mother, Carolyn, was a classical pianist. âHeâs the best singer in the family. He could have done it professionally, and I think he always wished he had,â Brett said of his dad. âHe was really in favor of me pursuing music. I think heâs been able to live vicariously through me a little.â
© WireImage for NARASCareer
Brett released his self-titled album in 1995 after signing with Arista Nashvilleâs Career Records and released five singles in eight years that reached Billboardâs country chart. After turning his attention to songwriting, he found huge success and wrote songs for artists including Carrie Underwood (âJesus, Take The Wheel,â âCowboy Casanovaâ), Kenny Chesney (âWhen The Sun Goes Down,â âOut Last Night,â âKeg In the Closetâ), Dierks Bentley (âI Hold Onâ), Jason Aldean (âThe Truthâ), and Rascal Flatts (âSummer Nightsâ).
