Brett J. Cornelius

Brett James Cornelius, aka "Brett James," B.S. ’91, passed away on Sept. 18, 2025, alongside his wife, Melody Carole, and his stepdaughter, Meryl Wilson. 

Cornelius was born on June 5, 1968, in Columbia, MO. He graduated from Christian Heritage Academy in Oklahoma City and attended Baylor for his undergraduate degree. After college, Cornelius spent two years in medical school at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. However, he elected to leave medical school to pursue his passion for music and moved to Nashville in 1992. 

Over the decades, Cornelius was privileged to work with numerous talented songwriters and artists, including Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Kip Moore and countless others. He received a Grammy Award for his work on “Jesus Take the Wheel,” wrote 27 number one hit songs and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. In 2021, Cornelius was awarded Baylor's Meritorious Achievement Award for contributions to the professions in media and arts. 

Cornelius was a loving father, brother and son — and a friend to everyone he met. Whether on Music Row, the golf course or on a boat somewhere, he was always a light to those around him. He loved going on adventures with friends and family to the Caribbean, the Colorado ski slopes and Tims Ford Lake. His spontaneous spirit and larger-than-life personality brought him across the world to more than 40 countries and every state. 

Cornelius leaves behind a legacy of love for his family, his community of Nashville and his colleagues in the music industry.