Country star calls longtime collaborator ‘Brother of the Sun’ after musician dies at 57

Country star Kenny Chesney is grieving the sudden and tragic loss of his longtime friend Brett James.

James, who penned some of country music’s biggest hits, was confirmed dead in a tragic plane crash that killed his wife and stepdaughter on September 18. He was 57.

In a heartfelt tribute shared on X (formerly Twitter), Chesney recalled the deep creative bond they shared over decades.

Country star Kenny Chesney mourns the passing of musician Brett James. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BMI)

“A very difficult goodbye to my Brother of the Sun Brett James,” Chesney, 57, wrote.

“I didn’t want to post because I didn’t want to believe it. Brett and I had a special bond. A brotherhood. A kinship.”

The duo created a number of beloved hits together, some of which Chesney recalls were written in a single afternoon.

“We wrote Reality and Out Last Night on the same afternoon sitting on my pool deck in the Virgin Islands, two days after Christmas,” he said.

James, who wrote hits including Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and Jason Aldean’s “The Truth,” was not only Chesney’s collaborator but also his family.

“We had a lot of genuine joy making music together over the years, and I will definitely miss that,” Chesney continued. “It’s hard to accept the loss of his creative soul. It’s such a loss. I feel like a part of my creative soul has gone with him.”

Chesney admits that many of James’s compositions feature in his setlist.

“Half the songs in my shows are songs he wrote or we wrote together. So I can’t do the next show without thinking about him.”

Chesney said that several of the songs he frequently performs in concert were written or co-written by James. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BMI)

The country star ended his tribute with a poignant goodbye.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but goodbye Brett James,” he wrote. “Thank you for being a lifelong friend, for being a tanned, shirtless troubadour, for the friendship, the songs, and all the laughs. Save me a seat at the After Party!”

He ended his speech with lyrics from his song “Knowing You.”

“God, we were so alive / I was like a kid on a roller coaster / Holding my breath until you were about to leave me / But I would do it all again because it was so good to know you.”

James’ illustrious career spanned decades, as he became one of Nashville’s most successful and beloved musicians. (Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images)

The “How Forever Feels” singer shared a heartfelt tribute along with photos of his close friend James and their time together.

A photo of James smiling with his guitar can be seen throughout the series, while another picture shows the two friends on stage together.

The iconic country singer died in a plane crash in North Carolina last week.

The plane, owned by James, was carrying two other passengers who were also confirmed dead at the scene. It was later revealed that the two passengers were his wife, Melody Carole Wilson, and his stepdaughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson.

Brett James was killed in a plane crash on September 18, 2025, along with his wife and stepdaughter, Melody and Meryl Wilson. (Getty Images; Melody Wilson/Instagram)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed to Fox News Digital that the plane was registered to James under his legal name, Brett James Cornelius. He appears to have been the pilot.

“A Cirrus SR22T crashed into a field in Franklin… at approximately 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, September 18. There were three people on board,” the FAA said in a statement.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.

James’ illustrious career spanned decades, as he became one of Nashville’s most successful and beloved musicians.

In 2020, James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

He has written over 500 songs recorded by artists such as Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, and Meghan Trainor.