Brett James had a distinction to his name and a connection to Prince
The songwriter of Jesus Take the Wheel left a lasting legacy.
Brett James left a legacy of music
Country and Pop music songwriter Brett James died on Thursday Septemeber, 18, in a plane crash in North Carolina along with his wife, Melody Carole, and stepdaughter Meryl Maxwell Wilson.
James’ single-engine aircraft had departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville before it inexplicably slammed into the field, near Iotla Valley Elementary School, at around 3 p.m. Thursday. No students or faculty were injured.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating what caused the crash.
James has written more than 200 songs for other artists, and his most famous is Jesus Take the Wheel which was a hit for Carrie Underwood. He co-wrote Wake Up and Smell the Whiskey with Dean Miller, which Miller recorded.
James had his own hit singles with Female Bonding," "If I Could See Love" and "Worth the Fall." In 2020, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Crash details
The following is a detailed report about the tragic crash.
A Cirrus SR22T crashed in a field in Franklin around 3 p.m. on Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The field was adjacent to the Macon County Airport, the National Transportation Safety Board said. Two women -- Melody Carole and Meryl Maxwell Wilson, both from Tennessee -- were also killed in the crash, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
A distinction with Country singers
When I saw articles about the airplane crash, I realized James shares a distinction that I noticed with some country singers. His first and last names each had one syllable. There are a few well-known pop stars like Madonna and Beyonce who only have one name, but I had noticed far more Country Music stars than those who sang in other genres had first and last names with only one syllable.
I had not heard of everyone listed below, and I don't know that they all sing strictly Country or if this list is complete. These names were on lists of Country Music singers for the past eight decades. There are 58 men and women listed. Brett James makes 59.
Earl Scruggs, Chris Young, Ray Charles, George Strait, Jack Grelle, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Cane Brown, Ray Smith, Nick Lowe, Kip Moore, Lee Brice, Luke Combs, Sam Hunt, John Doe, Ray Scott Vince Gill, Ray Price, Zack Brown, Hank Snow, Wade Mack,Vince Gill, Ray Price, Carl Smith, Wade Hayes, John Byrd, Will Hogue, Zach Top, Kim Lenz, George Jones, Nick Lance, Jim Reeves, Joe South, Lynn Miles, Joe Crouse, Steve Young, John Train , Ray Hood, Wayne Scott, Rob Baird, John Rich, Ned Hill, Joe Pug, Lynn Miles, Luke Grimes, Luke Bell, Kent Rose, Jim Mills, Hayes Carll, Gene Britt, Frank Ray, Doug Stone. Drake White, Drew Green, Christ Thile, Chris Ward, Chtis Wall, and Bob Holt.
Brett James and Prince connection
James also has an interesting coincidence with pop icon Prince, who died on April 21, 2016. Prince Rogers Nelson was found dead in the elevator at his Paisley Park Home. Fans noted that a line in his hit Let's Go Crazy was "We're not gonna let the elevator bring us down, oh no, let's go." They said hsi death in the elevvator mirrored the hit song from the best selling album Purple Rain.
Some Brett James fans believe that in his final moments, the song he wrote came to pass.
Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
'Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
They believe Brett let go and Jesus took the wheel and welcomed him, Melody, and Meryl into heaven.
About the Creator
Cheryl E Preston
Cheryl enjoys writing about current events, soap spoilers and baby boomer nostalgia. Tips are greatly appreciated.
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