Country music songwriter Brett James was one of three people killed in a small-engine plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday (Sept. 18).

The 57-year-old is most closely associated with kick-starting Carrie Underwood 's career and feeding her hit songs early and often, but he's written dozens of hits for other artists like Kenny Chesney , Dierks Bentley , Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride .

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame confirmed James' death with a post to social media on Thursday night.

The crash took place around 3PM local team in Franklin, N.C. (per WPDE-TV ).

While it occurred near an elementary school, no children or staff at the school were harmed.

Who Was Brett James?

James co-wrote nearly a dozen songs for Underwood projects, including "Church Bells,

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