A songwriter who worked with icons like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood was tragically killed in a small plane crash on Thursday, along with two others.

Brett James, 57, was onboard his Cirrus SR22T when it went down west of Iotla Valley Elementary School at around 3pm in Franklin, North Carolina, WLOS reports.

He and the only two other passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, with the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame announcing the tragic news later in the night. Continues…