Who Was Brett James Married To? Inside The Grammy Winner's Life As He Dies In Tragic Plane Crash

Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James has tragically lost his life at only 57. On September 18, 2025, the singer became one of the tragic fatalities of a small plane crash in Franklin, North Carolina. The news of his passing has sent shockwaves through the music industry, with fans and fellow artists mourning the man behind some of the country’s most iconic hits.

James, born James Cornelius, was a Nashville powerhouse. Known for writing some of the most iconic hits, including co-writing Carrie Underwood’s Grammy-winning song Jesus, Take the Wheel, James has been the creative force behind countless fan favourites and chart toppers. In 2020, he was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His passing leaves a bottomless void. 

The world remembers the award-winning songwriter, but behind the scenes, he was a devoted husband, father, and family man. As the music industry mourns the loss of Brett James, here’s a look at the late singer’s life beyond his extraordinary career. 

Brett James dies in a plane crash

According to FOX 17, Brett James was one of the three unfortunate passengers who died after a small-engine plane crashed in Franklin, North Carolina. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the Cirrus SR22T aircraft went down near Iotla Valley Elementary School on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Though no students or staff of the school were harmed, all three passengers on board, including James, were killed.

The plane was reportedly registered to the late musician, as per FlightAware data. The report also suggested that the Cirrus SR22T aircraft left Nashville, Tennessee, and crashed in Macon County at around 3 p.m. local time. James was the one flying the plane. Investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Who was Brett James?

Brett James, short for Brett James Cornelius, was a country singer, songwriter, and musician. Born June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri, he originally studied medicine at the University of Oklahoma before finding his true calling, music. In 1995, with encouragement from his loving family, James dropped out of medical school and released his debut album. Soon, he was writing songs for country music legends like Billy Ray Cyrus and Kenny Chesney. 

Brett James eventually became a beloved name in American country music. Some of his most popular songs from his early music days include What Child Is This?, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, and Chasing Amy. Later on, as a songwriter, he wrote some award-winning hits for several artists, including Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, and Carrie Underwood.

Who was Brett James married to?

Long before he became a breakthrough artist in Nashville, Brett James had found the love of his life. The musician was married to Sandra Cornelius, aka Sandy, his long-time partner and the mother of his children. Unlike her highly popular husband, Sandra has largely stayed out of the public eye for years. Despite James’ breakout fame in Nashville’s musical circles, Sandy has always preferred to keep herself and their family away from the media glare. 

According to a report by MusicRow, James had built a beautiful family in Nashville, Tennessee, with his loving wife, Sandy, and their four children, including three sons and a daughter named Clare. In April 2025, James, Sandy, and their son, Preston, had performed during the Friends & Fashion fundraiser luncheon in Tennessee.

Brett often credited Sandra’s support for grounding him through the ups and downs of the music industry. In interviews, he mentioned how she was often the first person to hear new songs he had written, including his iconic piece, When the Sun Goes Down. In a 2009 interview with The Oklahoman, the singer recalled how he “literally wrote it in my head on the way home from a session” and played it for Sandra immediately after reaching home.

Inside Brett’s family life

Brett James was a devoted family man, and his dedication to his wife and children proved the same. Even though his family was seldom in the limelight, the singer often took the extra measure to celebrate their presence in his life, be it with his songs or wholesome social media posts. 

In 2012, James wrote the song True Believer, keeping his children in mind as he captured the bittersweet emotions of a father preparing to let his daughter grow up and one day, ‘fly away’. Speaking about the first time he played the song for his family, the singer told American Songwriter:

“I sort of loved watching them all cry as they listened to the song. My daughter and I will always have that moment, and we will always have that song.”

One of James’ final posts on Instagram, posted June 16, 2025, featured him posing with his loving family, including his wife and children, captioned “Such an amazing Father's Day!!”

The industry mourns Brett James’ untimely demise

James was just 57 years old when his life was cut short by his own plane, which he was flying along with his two co-passengers. Some of the most iconic music artists, including Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Bon Jovi, and countless others, owe some of their most defining songs to Brett’s pen. 

As the investigation behind the tragic accident continues, fans and fellow artists are flooding social media with their tributes to the late Grammy winner. Dierks Bentley, who co-wrote I Hold On with James, wrote on Instagram:

“Rest in peace, pal. Total stud. Fellow aviator. One of the best singer-songwriters in our town….total legend. I brought a couple of roughly sketched verse ideas of I Hold On to Brett after my dad died, and he just did his thing. The chorus is all him. When I sing that song live, I’m always thinking of my dad, but I also think about that day we wrote it. He just got it, just lit into it. It was one of the first times we wrote, and I decided to drop the most meaningful and necessary idea of a song I had on him, because I felt like God was telling me to do so. Our friendship and that song changed my life. Prayers for his family.”

Brett James’s discography includes some of the most celebrated country hits of the past three decades. But at the heart of his most meaningful songs were his wife, Sandra, and their kids. His passing has left a void in the music industry. 

Read Next: Who Were Brett James' Parents? Dad Was A US Army Veteran, Brett Followed Dad's Path In Medicine

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)