30 Of The Biggest Hits Written By The Late, Great Country Music Legend, Brett James

On Thursday, September 18, the country music community was blindsided by the tragic death of Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, who was killed in a plane crash in North Carolina along with his wife and stepdaughter.

According to authorities in Macon County, NC,  the Cirrus SR22T with tail number N218VB took off from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville shortly after noon on Thursday before crashing near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, North Carolina. Luckily, all students and staff at the elementary school were safe, but all three passengers on the plane were killed in the crash. The plane was registered to James, whose full name was Brett James Cornelius.

Following his death, a plethora of different artists grieved the loss of their friend. Namely, Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Kip Moore and Sara Evans took to social media to pen touching tributes to the late songwriter. Jason Aldean and Parker McCollum would also pay their respects at their concerts over the weekend, performing “The Truth” and “Stoned,” respectively.

James, who had 27 career #1 hits (13 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart), a Grammy win for Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take The Wheel” and over 800 songs recorded by different artists throughout his career, was undoubtedly one of the premiere songwriters in country music over the past three decades.

Additionally, he was named the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ (ASCAP) Country Songwriter of the Year twice in 2006 and 2010, a multi-time CMA Triple Play Award winner and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Given the fact that he had worked with a huge number of artists, everyone from Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi and Backstreet Boys to Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw and Cody Johnson, the number of hit songs penned by James is nothing short of remarkable.

Here are 30 of the biggest hits written by the late, great Brett James.

1. “Jesus, Take The Wheel” – Carrie Underwood

Release Date: October 18, 2005

Writers: Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Brett James

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

2. “Who I Am” – Jessica Andrews

Release Date: October 30, 2000

Writers: Brett James, Troy Verges

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

3. “Blessed” – Martina McBride

Release Date: October 26, 2001

Writers: Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

4. “When The Sun Goes Down” – Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker

Release Date: February 2, 2004

Writer: Brett James

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

5. “Somethin’ Bad” – Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood

Release Date: May 19, 2014

Writers: Chris DeStefano, Brett James, Priscilla Renea

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

6. “It’s America” – Rodney Atkins

Release Date: November 24, 2008

Writers: Brett James, Angelo Petraglia

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

7. “Out Last Night” – Kenny Chesney

Release Date: April 6, 2009

Writers: Kenny Chesney, Brett James

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

8. “Cowboy Casanova” – Carrie Underwood

Release Date: September 14, 2009

Writers: Mike Elizondo, Brett James, Carrie Underwood

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

9. “The Truth” – Jason Aldean

Release Date: September 28, 2009

Writers: Brett James, Ashley Monroe

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

10. “The Man I Want to Be” – Chris Young

Release Date: November 16, 2009

Writers: Brett James, Tim Nichols

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

11. “Reality” – Kenny Chesney

Release Date: October 3, 2011

Writers: Kenny Chesney, Brett James

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

12. “Bottoms Up” – Brantley Gilbert

Release Date: December 16, 2013

Writers: Brantley Gilbert, Justin Weaver, Brett James

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country Songs)

13. “Something in the Water” – Carrie Underwood

Release Date: September 29, 2014

Writers: Carrie Underwood, Chris DeStefano, Brett James

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Hot Country & Christian Songs)

14. “I Hold On” – Dierks Bentley

Release Date: August 26, 2013

Writers: Brett James, Dierks Bentley

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Country Airplay)

15. “Summer Nights” – Rascal Flatts

Release Date: May 19, 2009

Writers: Brett James, Gary LeVox, busbee

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #2 (Hot Country Songs)

16. “On My Way To You” – Cody Johnson

Release Date: August 10, 2018

Writers: Brett James, Tony Lane

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #11 (Country Airplay)

17. “Love You Out Loud” – Rascal Flatts

Release Date: January 20, 2003

Writers: Brett James, Lonnie Wilson

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #3 (Hot Country Songs)

18. “Knowing You” – Kenny Chesney

Release Date: March 15, 2021

Writers: Adam James, Brett James, Kat Higgins

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #2 (Country Airplay)

19. “I Love You This Big” – Scotty McCreery

Release Date: May 25, 2011

Writers: Jay Smith, Ronnie Jackson, Ester Dean, Brett James

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #11 (Hot 100)

20. “Keg in the Closet” – Kenny Chesney

Release Date: May 9, 2005

Writers: Kenny Chesney, Brett James

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #6 (Hot Country Songs)

21. “I Want to Live” – Josh Gracin

Release Date: March 22, 2004

Writers: Brett James, Rivers Rutherford

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #4 (Hot Country Songs)

22. “Get Off on the Pain” – Gary Allan

Release Date: March 15, 2010

Writers: Brett James, Bill Luther, Justin Weaver

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #18 (Hot Country Songs)

23. “Cheatin'” – Sara Evans

Release Date: October 31, 2005

Writers: Brett James, Don Schlitz

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #9 (Hot Country Songs)

24. “Drugs or Jesus” – Tim McGraw

Release Date: January 17, 2005

Writers: Brett James, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Troy Verges

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #14 (Hot Country Songs)

25. “With Me” – Lonestar

Release Date: August 13, 2001

Writers: Brett James, Troy Verges

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #10 (Hot Country Songs)

26. “You Save Me” – Kenny Chesney

Release Date: August 14, 2006

Writers: Brett James, Troy Verges

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #3 (Hot Country Songs)

27. “Stay with Me (Brass Bed)” – Josh Gracin

Release Date: April 11, 2005

Writers: Jedd Hughes, Brett James, Terry McBride

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #5 (Hot Country Songs)

28. “Love Wins” – Carrie Underwood

Release Date: August 31, 2018

Writers: Carrie Underwood, Brett James, David Garcia

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #11 (Country Airplay)

29. “Feels Just Like It Should” – Pat Green

Release Date: May 15, 2006

Writers: Pat Green, Justin Pollard, Brett James

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #13 (Hot Country Songs)

30. “Mr. Know It All” – Kelly Clarkson

Release Date: September 5, 2011

Writers: Brian Kennedy Seals, Ester Dean, Brett James, Dante Jones

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (Adult Pop Airplay)The post 30 Of The Biggest Hits Written By The Late, Great Country Music Legend, Brett James first appeared on Whiskey Riff.