Early Life and Education
Born Brett James Cornelius June 5, 1968 in Columbia, Missouri to Dr. Sam Cornelius and Carolyn Cornelius. He was raised in Oklahoma, and graduated from Christian Heritage Academy in 1986. After graduating from high school, he went to Baylor University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1991.
He attended the University of Oklahoma, and in the early 1990s he entered medical school. Only music was his real love, and he abandoned medical school altogether to pursue a career in the recording industry. That choice would down the road yield one of the most successful songwriting careers in country music history.
Music Career and Achievements
Music career Brett James was briefly signed to Career Records in 1995. In the same year, he released an album of his own work, featuring songs like “Female Bonding”, “If I Could See Love ” and “Worth The Fall”. Despite some early success, his solo career did not take off as expected, leading him to briefly return to medical school. In the meantime he was also writing prolifically; his songs were recorded by various artists 33 times in nine months, and it seemed that he might have a future as a songwriter.
Brett James began to make a name for himself as one of Nashville’s most wanted writers. His best-known work came in 2006 with Carrie Underwood’s hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” for which he won his first Grammy Award, for best country song. The track also netted Carrie Underwood a Best Female Country Vocal Performance Grammy. The song was a hit, and helped establish him as a top flight songwriter.
Over the years, Brett wrote and co-wrote over 500 songs, with artists such as Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Jason Aldean, Faith Hill, Billy Ray Cyrus, Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley taking his songs to number one. His knack for writing deeply resonant and commercially successful songs spanned beyond country music, with collaborations extending to pop stars like Taylor Swift and rock icons like Bon Jovi. Across two decades, songs with his creative influence have been on albums that sold over 110 million copies globally.
Brett James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020 to honour his exceptional songwriting. He also served as a music industry executive elsewhere in his career, including owning Cornman Music, a publishing company, and sitting on the Country Music Association’s board. Brett was also a national trustee of The Recording Academy, the group that presents the Grammy Awards, and worked with Nashville Symphony.
Personal Life
Brett James was married to Sandra Cornelius, and a doting father. They raised children, and he managed his professional career with one of family. He was also remembered for his great warmth and generosity and for being loved by friends in the music business.
Brett James Net Worth
As of 2025 Brett James net worth is about $17 million to $20 million. His earnings were based largely on royalties from his investments in more recent ventures including Cornman Music as well as a padded songwriting catalog of several thousand songs. The success and longevity of his songs were financially beneficial to him, leading to his financial security and wealth.
Latest News and Tragic Passing
Brett James passed away on September 18, 2025 in a fatal small plane accident. The incident occurred when his Cirrus SR22T aircraft registered in his name went down near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, North Carolina. The crash took place at about 3 p.m. local time while the plane was flying out of John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, Tenn., just after it had departed from that airport.
The plane was carrying three people, and all were killed. No students or staff members at the school were injured in the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating with local authorities. To date, the cause of the crash is still unknown.
Brett’s cause of death was cancer. News of Brett sudden passing struck a blow in the music community. Several artists, among them Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood, and other songwriter pals, mourned his passing and paid tribute to his powerful influence. His talent was admired on both the country and pop music sides of the street, and his place as one of Nashville’s most sophisticated songwriters assured.
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