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Brett James<\/a>‘ best songs showcase him as one of the most talented and versatile songwriters of the 21st century.<\/p>\n A career-breaking Carrie Underwood<\/a> hit and a life-changing Kenny Chesney <\/a>song are stealing headlines today, one day after his death in North Carolina a plane crash<\/a>. To boil him down to any two or three songs would be lazy, insincere and just plain rude.<\/p>\n The 57-year-old is a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer with more than 20 No. 1 country songs among the hundreds he helped write. Even a partial list of his catalogue illustrates how capable he was of tapping into any emotion.<\/p>\n Below you’ll find 13 celebrated songs written by Brett James, usually with help from the Nashville songwriting community.<\/p>\n Most famous are Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” and Chesney’s Uncle Kracker duet, “When the Sun Goes Down,” but you’ll find at least two more career-starting cuts among this popular mix of love songs, drinking songs, reflections and moments of faith.<\/p>\n Let’s begin with what the Taste of Country team calls Underwood’s best song. James’ co-writers and the year of release are included in parentheses:<\/p>\n Carrie Underwood, “Something In the Water” (2014, with Underwood and Chris Stefano)<\/strong><\/p>\n Dierks Bentley, “I Hold On” (2013, with Bentley)<\/strong><\/p>\n Jason Aldean, “The Truth” (2009, with Ashley Monroe)<\/strong><\/p>\n Kenny Chesney, “You Save Me” (2006, with Troy Verges)<\/strong><\/p>\n Brantley Gilbert, “Bottoms Up” (2013, with Justin Weaver and Gilbert)<\/strong><\/p>\n Martina McBride, “Blessed (2001, with Hillary Lindsey and Verges)<\/strong><\/p>\n Scotty McCreery, “I Love You This Big” (2011, with Jay Smith, Ronnie Jackson and Ester Dean)<\/strong><\/p>\n Tim McGraw, \u201cDrugs or Jesus\u201d (2005, With Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo and Verges)<\/strong><\/p>\n Gary Allan, \u201cGet Off on the Pain\u201d (2010, with Bill Luther and Weaver)<\/strong><\/p>\n Jessica Andrews, “Who I Am” (2000, with Verges)<\/strong><\/p>\n Sara Evans, “Cheatin'” (2005, with Don Schlitz)<\/strong><\/p>\n Rascal Flatts, “Summer Nights” (2009, with Gary LeVox and busbee)<\/strong><\/p>\n Chris Cagle, “Wal-Mart Parking Lot” (2005, solo write)<\/strong><\/p>\n This list proves that small risks an artist takes each time they travel to a show adds up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nHow Did Brett James Die?<\/h3>\n
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Brett James’ Songs:<\/h3>\n
11 Country Singers Who Died in Plane Crashes<\/h2>\n