Home News Christian songwriter known for ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ dies in plane crashA prominent Christian songwriter, known for co-writing the Grammy-winning hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” was among three people killed in a small aircraft crash in North Carolina. Brett James, who co-wrote Carrie Underwood’s song, was identified as one of the victims of the crash, which occurred around 3 p.m. last Thursday in Franklin. James, 57, had been piloting the plane, which took off from Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport. His song “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” co-written with Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson, won the Grammy Award for best country song in 2007 and was named ASCAP’s Country Song of the Year in 2006, the Los Angeles Times noted. Singer, songwriter and actress Carrie Underwood expressed grief over the loss of her longtime collaborator in a tribute on Instagram.