The music community is mourning a pivotal artist.
Brett James—a songwriter responsible for “Jesus, Take the Wheel”—has died in a plane crash in North Carolina on Sept. 18, authorities confirmed to NBC News. He was 57.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported to a crash site near the town of Franklin, the organization told NBC News, confirming three people died in the crash: James (full name Brett James Cornelius), and two women named Melody Carole and Meryl Maxwell Wilson.
The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) confirmed it and the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) would be investigating the crash, which involved a Cirrus SR22T aircraft, in a statement shared with NBC News. The NTSB will be leading the investigation.
The plane took off from Nashville’s John C Tune Airport, per CNN, citing FlightAware, before crashing about 270 miles southeast of the city, in a field near Franklin’s Iotla Valley Elementary School. Local Macon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a statement shared to social media that “all students and staff are safe” following the crash.
