Carrie Underwood Mourns Beloved Songwriting Partner Brett James Lost in Tragic Accident
Carrie Underwood is grieving the loss of her regular songwriting partner Brett James who passed away at 57 in an aircraft accident.
“Certain events are simply incomprehensible. The void left by Brett James for his loved ones, acquaintances, and the music industry is too immense to articulate,” Underwood, 42, expressed on her Instagram on Friday, September 19. “Brett embodied the essence of ‘cool.’ I vividly recall him arriving at my writing retreats on his motorcycle, his hair impeccably styled even after wearing a helmet for an extended period.”
James passed away on Thursday, September 18, following a deadly aviation incident in North Carolina involving three additional occupants. He is survived by his spouse and their four offspring.
James was an individual recording artist who also regularly composed tracks for fellow musicians. He collaborated on Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel," "Flat on the Floor," and "Cowboy Casanova."
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“I always enjoyed hearing him perform ‘Cowboy Casanova’ because a bold female empowerment song should have sounded absurd coming from a masculine man like him, yet he somehow made even that seem effortlessly stylish,” Underwood further remarked in her Friday homage. “He was a kind soul. I recall collaborating with him on a track where he had essentially penned 75 percent of it, having it prepared when he entered the studio. We completed the missing parts and added a bit of melody, and afterward, I told him I felt uncomfortable dividing the credit equally when he had done the majority of the work. He refused. He maintained that all contributions should be considered even.”
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She proceeded, “Brett had a deep faith in God. That is the sole source of solace we can cling to at this moment. We even had the privilege of performing hymns together at our place of worship. My most cherished songs of ours to sing are those that he or we composed about Jesus, as the sentiments and emotions within them are so sincere and unblemished. I will never again vocalize a single note of them without recalling him.”
The past American Idol victor additionally observed that James’ passing created "a void within all of us that [she worried] would never diminish."
“It will perpetually serve as a testament that our existence is merely fleeting,” Underwood finalized. “We must maximize every twenty-four hours we are granted on this planet. Every day is a present. I implore all of you to offer prayers for his family, his companions, and for all of us who were fortunate enough to have known Brett. Love you, friend. I will reunite with you someday.”
