Songwriter Brett James during a rehearsal for a performace with the Boston Pops on May 21, 2013, in Nashville, Tennessee. Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, known for penning hits including Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” died in a small-engine plane crash on Thursday, according to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame . He was 57.

A plane registered under James’ name reportedly crashed into a field in Franklin, North Carolina, about 270 miles southeast of Nashville, around 3 p.m. Thursday, according to data from FlightAware and a statement from the FAA.

The plane departed from John C Tune Airport in Nashville, according to FlightAware. It crashed into a field near Iotla Valley Elementary School, CNN affiliate WLOS reported.

“The stu

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