Brett James, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, is believed to be one of three individuals who died in a small plane crash in Franklin, North Carolina, on Thursday. The crash occurred around 3 p.m. local time when a Cirrus SR22T went down in a field near Iotla Valley Elementary School. Fortunately, all students and staff at the school were reported safe.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that three people were on board the aircraft, and none survived the incident. The plane had departed from Nashville, Tennessee, earlier that day at 12:41 p.m. and was registered to Brett Cornelius, who is from Brentwood, Tennessee.

James, 57, was known for writing or co-writing numerous hit songs, including Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel," which won Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance. His songwriting career spanned over two decades, during which he collaborated with many prominent artists, such as Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, and Jason Aldean.

Born in Columbia, Missouri, in 1968, James initially pursued a career in medicine before shifting his focus to music. He achieved significant success as a songwriter, with over 300 major-label cuts to his name. His notable works also include "When the Sun Goes Down" by Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker, and "Summer Nights" by Rascal Flatts.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide further updates as they become available. The identities of the other two individuals on the plane have not yet been disclosed.