Small Plane Crash Near North Carolina School Kills Three, Including Songwriter Brett James

Brett James, a renowned songwriter credited with hits like Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel," was among three people killed when a small Cirrus SR22T plane crashed in Franklin, North Carolina. The plane, which took off from Nashville's John C. Tune Airport, went down near Iotla Valley Elementary School, but no students or staff were harmed. The crash occurred around 3 p.m. and resulted in no survivors on board. Authorities, including the FAA, NTSB, and North Carolina Highway Patrol, are investigating the incident, but the cause remains unknown. James, 57, was a 2020 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and had a prolific career writing for country and pop artists. The identities of the other victims have not been disclosed pending family notification.