articleCountry music hitmaker Brett James, the man behind Carrie Underwood 's iconic "Jesus, Take the Wheel," died Thursday in a plane crash in North Carolina. Just months before his untimely death, James shared a heartfelt moment with his loved ones. The plane crash occurred just days after James’ stepdaughter, Meryl, celebrated her 28th birthday. As the investigation into the plane crash continues, the country music world grieved the loss of a musical legend. The country songwriter was best known for his work on "Jesus, Take the Wheel", which not only earned Underwood a Grammy, but also became an anthem of modern country music.