Tragedy has country music in mourning, Thomas Rhett’s ultimate family surprise | Music City Minute

One of country music’s most celebrated modern songwriters has passed away. Brett James, who wrote hits for Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride, was one of three people who lost their lives in a small engine airplane accident in North Carolina. Initially, James came to Nashville chasing big dreams of country superstardom. Even though James did record a small amount of music, he cemented his legacy with his songwriting. The 57-year-old hitmaker’s accolades include several Songwriter of the Year awards, as well as an induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren are expecting a baby in March. This time around, the ecstatic couple are going to wait for the baby’s birth to find out the gender. Although the Rhett’s already has a full house with four girls, the new baby will probably be the last. The “T-Shirt” singer admits that more than five kids mean they will need a van to haul the family…and he is not a van dad, he is a truck dad!

I’m Sheena, and that’s your Music City Minute.