Brett James Cornelius, 57, Dies in Plane Crash in Franklin, North Carolina
GRAMMY-winning country music songwriter Brett James Cornelius died on Sept. 18 following a small-engine plane crash in Franklin, North Carolina.
The Columbia, Missouri, native co-wrote numerous hits, including Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take The Wheel,” which won him a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Song in 2006. He was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.
Cornelius penned several songs for Rascal Flatts, including “Summer Nights” and “Love You Out Loud.” Gary LeVox, the band’s lead singer, paid tribute to Cornelius on social media, recalling their collaborative process and shared memories.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a Cirrus SR22T aircraft, carrying a pilot and two passengers, crashed at approximately 3 p.m. local time. The incident took place in a field in Franklin, North Carolina.
Cornelius is survived by his wife, Sandra, and their four children.
For further details, contact Sophia Veneziano at sveneziano@dispatch.com.