Carrie Underwood shared an emotional tribute to songwriter Brett James after his “unfathomable” death on Thursday at the age of 57.
The two collaborated on many songs together, most famously “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” the first single off of Underwood’s debut album in 2005.
“The loss of Brett James to his family, friends and our music community is too great to put into words,” the American Idol winner wrote on Instagram Friday alongside a carousel of photos of her and James together.
Underwood, 42, described the record producer as “the epitome of ‘cool’” and a “good guy,” joking that he always had “perfectly coiffed” hair despite constantly wearing a motorcycle helmet.
“I always loved hearing him sing ‘Cowboy Casanova’ because a sassy girl anthem should’ve sounded ridiculous coming from a macho dude like him, but somehow, he even made that cool,” she continued.
She also shared a treasured memory of James insisting to split songwriting credit “evenly” with her even though “he did most of the work” and wrote 75 percent of the tracks.
“He insisted that everything be equal. He was just that kind of guy…”
The “Good Girl” songstress wrote that her only “comfort” during this tragic time is knowing that James “loved the Lord” and is with him now.
“My favorite songs to sing of ours are the ones that he or we wrote about Jesus because the thoughts and feelings behind them are so genuine and pure. I won’t ever sing one note of them again without thinking of him,” she said.
She described his death as a “hole in all of us that I fear won’t ever go away” and asked her followers to “pray for his family, friends and all of us that were blessed enough to know Brett.”
“Love you, man. I’ll see you again someday,” she concluded.
The Grammy winner — who was also a songwriter for country superstars like Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, and Jason Aldean — died in a plane crash alongside his wife and stepdaughter.
The Cirrus SR22T, a small-engine plane registered to James, went down Thursday afternoon near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, NC, after departing from Nashville hours prior, WLOS reported.
James and wife, Melody Carole Wilson, 59, had celebrated her daughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson’s 28th birthday just one day before the fatal crash.
“Happy Birthday my Love!! How Blessed am I to be your Momma!” Melody, who married James in August 2021, wrote on Instagram Wednesday alongside a carousel of photos of Meryl.
“You’re the MOST BEAUTIFUL AMAZING HUMAN inside and out! I’m humbled and grateful everyday [sic] for your shining presence in my life! God has already used you for His Kingdom in so many ways and so much more to come! No words can express what a gift you are to me and everyone that KNOWS YOU.”
Meryl had written on her own Instagram page, “28 years old.✨ 142 days sober.✨ Extremely happy to be here 🤍.”
James is survived by his four adult children, whom he shared with his first wife, Sandra Cornelius-Little.
