It took Kenny Chesney the better part of a week to muster up the strength to pay public tribute to his songwriting partner and close friend Brett James .

James died last Thursday (Sept. 18) in a small-engine plane crash. He was 57 years old.

"I haven't wanted to post because I didn't want to believe it," Chesney admits in an emotional new social media message.

James had a hand in writing many of the songs in Chesney's catalog, including "When the Sun Goes Down," "You Save Me," "Just to Say We Did," "Out Last Night" and more. Several of those were co-writes between the two friends.

"I feel as if part of my creative soul went with him," Chesney reflects.

"It will be a void in my life and creativity forever," he continues. "I've never known writing songs or being on the road witho

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