ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit pays tribute to Brett James after plane crash death

ESPN announcer Kirk Herbstreit paid tribute to singer Brett James after his death in a small-plane crash near Franklin, North Carolina, on Thursday.

James, 57, was aboard a Cirrus SR22T when it went down near a school at around 3 p.m., according to WLOS. He and the two other passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame said later that night. James was inducted into the Hall in 2020.

Tributes poured in for James, a songwriter whose work helped shape contemporary country. His catalog includes Carrie Underwood's Jesus, Take The Wheel, a chart-topping hit that earned a Grammy nomination, and Jason Aldean's The Truth. James was named the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year twice, underscoring his impact on the genre. Officials said the plane departed Nashville, Tennessee, at about 12:41 p.m. local time before crashing near a Franklin school.

Herbstreit, a longtime ESPN college football analyst, had been in the spotlight earlier this month for a hot-mic moment during a game. He later posted a tribute to James on social media, describing him as one of the most talented and down-to-earth people he has met and offering prayers for his family.

Investigators are reviewing flight records, radar data, and weather conditions as they determine the cause of the Cirrus SR22T crash. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and other colleagues expressed condolences, noting James's long career and his influence on country music.