Story Behind The Song: Carrie Underwood - "Jesus Take The Wheel

With "Jesus Take The Wheel," Carrie Underwood was immediately embraced by the Country Music Community for the very first time after winning American Idol in 2005. In this Roughstock Exclusive, songwriter Brett James discusses how the song came into existence. 

"'Jesus, Take the Wheel' was written at Hillary’s house on her living room floor," Brett James tells Roughstock. "It was done like any other rainy day in Nashville. We walked in, started drinking coffee and talking about what we wanted to write that day. As writers, you kill about a half an hour just shooting the bull, and then it’s like, ‘OK what do you want to write today?’ Gordie says, ‘Man, I’ve got this title … ‘When Jesus Takes the Wheel.’’ Now, we’re kind of used to that phrase, but that was the first time I’d ever heard it, and I kind of laughed it off. 

"We talked about some other ideas, and fortunately after we went through about three or four other ideas, that one kept coming up," continues James. "So I was like, ‘What about that ‘When Jesus Takes the Wheel’ idea. What would we write that one about?’ We came up with a little girl driving through Cincinnati. There are some personal stories involved. My wife almost had that experience. She had a very miraculous car crash that she walked away from. Since then, a lot of people have. You hear those stories all the time where they say I don’t know what happen, I just know that it was a miracle that I got out of there. "We write all kinds of songs," James reflects. "We write fun songs and songs you can dance to, and songs that are stupid and silly that sound good on the radio. Occasionally you need to write something that means something to people. Those are the most fun songs to be part of, and this one was definitely one of those."

Read the lyrics to "Jesus Take The Wheel"

Watch the music video for "Jesus Take The Wheel"

3 Comments

  • tyler shellabarger

    hell, i like it,

  • unicornflower

    This doesn't tell what this song means

  • Jane E Bryce

    Jesus take the wheel belongs to me It was my story what i went though in my life , I work for God our creator and go on many trial every day with Him, I 'm from Michigan in 2000 my family and i moved to Oregon and in 2004 i was at my church and i mat a women and she said she did not understand about God so i shared a little about my trail what i want through how Jesus was there for me and my 2 baby sons . I told the middle part and i ask her not to share it with any one but she did . in 1999 when i was still in Michigan i told the whole story to my Pastor and his wife. and my Pastor said i was the lucky est person on earth. I was very up set to here the you made a song out of it and change the words to make it an none christian song and you did not get my Permission to use it . but its to late right yes and no here the deal Hillary and Brett can you come to our gun store Gunrunner Arms i will tell you the whole story and you can make a movie out of it if you want to. I am also a prayer warrior . I pray for every one i met that one of my jobs. I ask Jesus if i was the only one on this earth that said Jesus take the wheel to Him and He said yes and He said you no the meaning of Jesus take the wheel and i said yes Lord . I said Thanks Jesus that why i love you so much. So i hope i get to meet you both and share my story with you My name is Jane Bryce and i look for word to meet you both. Have a wonderful day.