Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, best known for co-writing Carrie Underwood’s iconic hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” tragically died in a small-plane crash in Franklin, North Carolina, on Thursday. He was 57.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the single-engine plane registered under James’ name took off from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville and crashed into a field near Iotla Valley Elementary School around 3 p.m. local time. Macon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that all students and staff at the nearby school were safe.

The FAA reported that three people were on board, none of whom survived. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the crash.

Brett James, who collaborated with industry megastars including Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, and Kenny Chesney, was one of country music’s most celebrated songwriters.

He won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2006 for “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” Over his career, James wrote more than 500 songs, with 27 of them reaching chart-topping success, and his work contributed to albums with combined sales of over 110 million copies.

In 2020, James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also owned Cornman Music Publishing, served on the board of the Country Music Association, and was a national trustee of The Recording Academy.

Tributes have poured in from across the music industry. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) described him as “a trusted collaborator to country’s greatest names, and a true advocate for his fellow songwriters.”