According to US media reports on September 19, James, 57, his girlfriend Melody Wilson, 59, and her daughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson, crashed on James' Cirrus SR22T in Franklin on Thursday.

The songwriter, who wrote songs for several stars including Taylor Swift, left behind four adult children born to his ex-wife, Sandra Cornelius.James and Melody have been in love for many years and often share travel photos on social media. They live together in a mansion worth about 13.5 million yuan in Nashville.

The day before the tragedy, Melody had just celebrated her daughter's 28th birthday on social media. "Happy birthday my baby!! How lucky I am to be your mom!" Melody wrote on Wednesday. "You are the most beautiful and wonderful person inside and outside! I am humbled and grateful every day for your radiance! God has done so much for His kingdom with you, and there is more to come! Words cannot express what a precious gift you are to me, and to all who know you."

Merrill also wrote on her own website: "28 years old, 142 days without drinking. very happy to live to this day."James' single-engine plane took off from Nashville and crashed west of Franklin Valley Elementary School around 3 p.m.

The Marcon County Sheriff's Office said none of the students or staff at nearby elementary schools were injured as a result of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. The news of James's death was followed by remembers of the songwriter who wrote country hits such as Carrie Underwood's Grammy-winning song "Jesus, Take The Wheel" and Jason Aldin's "The Truth".

James has twice won the American Association of Composers, Writers and Publishers Country Songwriter of the Year Award. In 2020, the singer was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.He also served as a producer and in the countryside music association and the board of directors of the recording academy. In addition, James also owns the publishing company Cornman Music.

According to media reports, James, who was born on June 5, 1968 in Columbia, Missouri, originally intended to pursue a medical career. When he graduated from medical school, he decided to quit school and pursue his music dream.James subsequently signed with Arista Nashville¡¯s Career Records, became an independent artist and released his first personal album in 1995.

Six years later, he won the listing for the first time with Jessica Andrews' "Who I Am". But what really made him a famous songwriter was his 2005 collaboration with Kelly Andrews. Andrew sang the song when he was elected to the Hall of Fame, and James called it "undoubtedly the greatest honor in my life."

Since then, his more than 800 songs have been recorded by rural singers and non-rural singers, including Backstreet Boys, Bon Jovi and Nick Jonas. Following the news of James¡¯s unfortunate death, fellow singers and songwriters paid tribute to him on social media.

"I was devastated to learn that Brett James, one of the best songwriters with whom I wrote and recorded many of his songs, has passed away," Sarah Evans shared online. "My prayers are for his loved ones," she continued. "What a tragic and sad day. He will be deeply missed."

Songwriter Jesse Alexander also recalled "the many fun nights we had together on stage and memories of touring and making music together". "He lives wonderfully and always makes me feel special," she said. "The music industry will never be the same again."

The American Association of Composers, Writers and Publishers also expressed its mourning at James¡¯s death, calling him ¡°a reliable collaborator of the greatest name in the countryside and a true advocate of songwriters.¡± ¡°We miss him very much.¡±

Music tycoon who wrote songs for Taylor Swift died alongside girlfriend and her daughter, 28, in private plane crash