{"id":4820,"date":"2025-09-20T10:29:52","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T10:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=4820"},"modified":"2025-09-20T10:29:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T10:29:52","slug":"%f0%9f%98%94-inside-brett-james-family-heartbreak-wife-of-grammy-winning-songwriter-says-she-still-cannot-believe-the-shocking-plane-crash-that-claimed-his-life-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=4820","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\ude14 Inside Brett James\u2019 family heartbreak: Wife of Grammy-winning songwriter says she still \u201ccannot believe\u201d the shocking plane crash that claimed his life \u2014 and reveals the final phone call that now haunts her.  Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, 57, was killed in a tragic North Carolina plane crash on September 17 alongside two others, leaving behind his wife and their four children. But as tributes flood in, his family\u2019s grief is marked by disbelief. His wife, devastated, admitted she has yet to process the \u201cimpossible news,\u201d recalling the final, ordinary phone conversation they shared just hours before the crash \u2014 words now replaying endlessly in her mind. What seemed like a routine call has become a haunting memory, a last moment of love that turned into an irreplaceable goodbye&#8230; WATCH MORE BELOW \ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"featured-image page-header-image-single grid-container grid-parent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/humansofgeorgia.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumb-54.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/humansofgeorgia.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumb-54.jpg 650w, https:\/\/humansofgeorgia.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumb-54-300x162.jpg 300w\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"351\" \/><\/div>\n<header class=\"entry-header\">\n<h1 class=\"entry-title\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/16.0.1\/svg\/1f614.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\ude14\" \/>\u00a0Inside Brett James\u2019 family heartbreak: Wife of Grammy-winning songwriter says she still \u201ccannot believe\u201d the shocking plane crash that claimed his life \u2014 and reveals the final phone call that now haunts her<\/h1>\n<div class=\"entry-meta\"><span class=\"posted-on\"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-09-19T22:09:25+07:00\">19\/09\/2025<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry-content\"><ins class=\"982a9496\" data-key=\"a835c143931403ba551d7ad7f954d0ca\"><\/ins><\/p>\n<p id=\"eDxePIzvGS\" data-wc=\"119\"><strong>rett James,<\/strong>\u00a0a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter behind some of country music\u2019s 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,\u00a0according to\u00a0<em>WTVF.<\/em>\u00a0\u201cA 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,\u201d the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement, adding it will investigate the incident with the National Transportation Safety Board.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mfOmROwT\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"eTg3L5IOY-S\" data-wc=\"60\">The Macon County Sheriff\u2019s Office confirmed that no students or staff at the school were injured from the crash. \u201cTo 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,\u201d the sheriff\u2019s office said in a statement on\u00a0Facebook.<\/p>\n<div class=\"FqbMswJw\"><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h2-n7n4mfqwa3d4\" data-wc=\"1\">Family<\/h2>\n<p id=\"ee-eJC4Z-lD\" data-wc=\"70\">Brett, who was born Brett James Cornelius, is survived by his wife,\u00a0<strong>Sandra Cornelius<\/strong>, 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: \u201cSuch an amazing Father\u2019s Day!!\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\">\n<div id=\"eIwnJJ2xRz\" data-wc=\"200\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"imCo-14461c5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"image image\" src=\"https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bef0ddebaa22-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bef0ddebaa22-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bef0ddebaa22-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bef0ddebaa22-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" alt=\"photo of brett james and wife sandra cornelius \" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" \/><span class=\"imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 Instagram<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">Brett was married to Sandra Cornelius&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p id=\"eIeAc2-bFC\" data-wc=\"56\">His song,<em>\u00a0\u201c<\/em>True Believer\u201d, about the relationship between a father and daughter, was inspired by his kids, especially his relationship with Clare. \u201cI 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,\u201d he told<em>\u00a0American Songwriter<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\">\n<div id=\"eCZMl_cjkE\" data-wc=\"200\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"imCo-14461c5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"image image\" src=\"https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/39dfa04e23f4-inside-brett-james-family-life-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-dies-.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/39dfa04e23f4-inside-brett-james-family-life-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-dies-.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/39dfa04e23f4-inside-brett-james-family-life-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-dies-.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/39dfa04e23f4-inside-brett-james-family-life-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-dies-.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" alt=\"photo of brett james and his family\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" \/><span class=\"imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 Instagram<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">Brett and Sandra had four kids<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h2-n7n4mfqwa3d5\" data-wc=\"1\">Parents<\/h2>\n<p id=\"epF-b5w45G9\" data-wc=\"88\">Brett initially intended to follow in his physician father, Dr. Sam Cornelius\u2019 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. \u201cTwo 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,\u201d he told T<em>he Oklahoma<\/em>\u00a0in 2009.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\">\n<div id=\"ex6sI7tD1z\" data-wc=\"200\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"imCo-14461c5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"image image\" src=\"https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/780cdc80d581-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/780cdc80d581-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/780cdc80d581-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/780cdc80d581-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwriter-.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" alt=\"photo of brett james singing on stage with guitar\" width=\"750\" height=\"1024\" \/><span class=\"imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 Getty Images<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">Brett James dropped out of medical school to pursue a career in music<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"eoij93D2xXY\" data-wc=\"84\">While he didn\u2019t end up as a physician like his dad, who passed away in 2007, music did run in the family as Brett\u2019s father was a talented singer and his mother, Carolyn, was a classical pianist. \u201cHe\u2019s the best singer in the family. He could have done it professionally, and I think he always wished he had,\u201d Brett said of his dad. \u201cHe was really in favor of me pursuing music. I think he\u2019s been able to live vicariously through me a little.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\">\n<div id=\"e7SEmy2TSX\" data-wc=\"75\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"imCo-14461c5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"image image\" src=\"https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/acb9e1466875-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-and-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwri.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/acb9e1466875-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-and-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwri.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/acb9e1466875-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-and-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwri.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/58v76y8z87lo.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/acb9e1466875-inside-brett-james-family-life-with-wife-and-4-kids-after-grammy-winning-songwri.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" alt=\"photo of brett james and kip moore\" width=\"1024\" height=\"703\" \/><span class=\"imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 WireImage for NARAS<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">Brett wrote hit songs for artists like Carrie Underwood and Kenny Chesney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h2-n7n4mfqwa3d6\" data-wc=\"1\">Career<\/h2>\n<p id=\"ebKWUZLxWQA\" data-wc=\"78\">Brett released his self-titled album in 1995 after signing with Arista Nashville\u2019s Career Records and released five singles in eight years that reached Billboard\u2019s country chart. After turning his attention to songwriting, he found huge success and wrote songs for artists including\u00a0<strong>Carrie Underwood<\/strong>\u00a0(\u201cJesus, Take The Wheel,\u201d \u201cCowboy Casanova\u201d),\u00a0<strong>Kenny Chesney<\/strong>\u00a0(\u201cWhen The Sun Goes Down,\u201d \u201cOut Last Night,\u201d \u201cKeg In the Closet\u201d),\u00a0<strong>Dierks Bentle<\/strong><strong>y\u00a0<\/strong>(\u201cI Hold On\u201d),\u00a0<strong>Jason Aldean<\/strong>\u00a0(\u201cThe Truth\u201d), and\u00a0<strong>Rascal Flatts<\/strong>\u00a0(\u201cSummer Nights\u201d).<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0Inside Brett James\u2019 family heartbreak: Wife of Grammy-winning songwriter says she still \u201ccannot believe\u201d the shocking plane crash that claimed his life \u2014 and reveals the final&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4821,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4820"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4822,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4820\/revisions\/4822"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}