Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, best known for co-writing the 2005 hit song Jesus Take the Wheel, has died in a plane crash in North Carolina. James, 57, was one of the three people aboard a single-engine Cirrus SR22T when it went down "under unknown circumstances in a wooded area".

James, 57, co-wrote 27 No. 1 hits. He was known as an ambassador for the Nashville songwriting community and helped launch new country singers’ careers.