ADVERTISEMENT

AOL Radio

Listen to AOL Radio Now
play arrow
Top Country - Today's Hottest Hits
Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts
play arrow
'90s Country - '90s Biggest Hits
Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, George Strait
play arrow
New Country First - Today's new country hits
Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Sugarland
Online Radio Guide

Exclusive Interviews

Chats with your favorite country stars.

Exclusive Performances

Watch live, in-studio performances.

Blogroll

Carrie Underwood, 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' - Story Behind the Lyrics

Songwriter Brett James talks with The Boot about Carrie Underwood's seven-week No. 1 song, 'Jesus, Take the Wheel,' which he co-wrote with Gordie Sampson and Hillary Lindsey.

That day started out to be a typical "day at the office." We wrote it at Hillary's house. We were trying to think of ideas, and Gordie walked in and said, "I have this title, and I don't know what to do with it: 'When Jesus Takes the Wheel.'" Hillary and I both laughed. I thought it was kind of silly, to be honest with you. I thought, "What in the world does that mean?" We kind of talked about it a while, then went around with five or six other song titles to write something else. We couldn't think of anything else and went back to Gordie's idea. Sure enough, we started writing it about the girl driving on Christmas Eve with a baby in the backseat of her car. It evolved into 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' soon after that.

My wife had a similar experience to the girl in the song. My wife had a car crash when we were dating. She nearly died. Her car spun around several times and went under an 18-wheeler. She said she saw angels come help her. She walked away with no injuries. I thought it was interesting that she had that same situation happen to her like the girl in the song.

It became such a neat song because it touches people. Those songs are really special. We really had no idea who was going to record the song. When Carrie recorded it, it was one of those magical things when you get the right artist and the right song. This happened to be one of those songs. That will always be one of the most special songs to me.



Download 'Jesus, Take the Wheel'

All the AOL Music info you want to know

Katy Perry's 'Part of Me' Movie Will…

AOL Music Blog

Kevin Mazur, WireImage Katy Perry has revealed that her upcoming concert…

The Dandy Warhols, 'Sad Vacation' --…

Spinner

Artist: The Dandy Warhols Video: "Sad Vacation" Highlight: "Hiking and camping…

Robert Nix Dead: Atlanta Rhythm Section…

Spinner

Tom Hill, WireImage Robert Nix, drummer and co-founder of the Atlanta Rhythm…

See all AOL Music »

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

85 Comments

Filter by:
Alyssa Sousley

i think that it is a very good song and my grandma told me the story about this one girl that she knew(this song is based on the story of her) and she was driving to her grandmas house and the baby started to cry and she kept saying to herself that she was sliding because she was trying to calm the baby in the back and she was crying becasue she wanted to ask jesus to take the wheel because she was trying to get the baby to stop crying and she ended up going into the river and she lived but the baby didnt and she doesnt talk about that day and her name was.........brenda luoisa she is my aunt by marrigie and she only told me because we are very close and she and carrie are Best Friends.

February 09 2012 at 3:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tara jo

my mom was tellin me this happend to her when i was a baby and her dog abby was in the front seat and she spun on ice on a black top road around christmas and when she looked in the bck seat i was still sleepin lol it just crazy

September 14 2011 at 2:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to tara jo's comment
Alyssa Sousley

i am so sure that she did because that is the same thing that happened in the story and so hahahah BURN

February 09 2012 at 3:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
eliezerlugo

A sweet song of what Jesus wants to in our lives. Never stop singing his name.
be bless.

April 05 2010 at 10:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
caroltink59

This song gives me goose bumps every time I hear it.
Carrie rocks

April 03 2010 at 9:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to caroltink59's comment
Alyssa Sousley

why does it give you goosebumps ??????

February 09 2012 at 3:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
inmymind10

So many Beautiful Stories ! Keep singing for us Carrie ! God Bless You !

April 01 2010 at 9:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
clc4living

I was not intending to stop on this web site I was in hurry in the day, but the title caught my eye. I lived this in 1979. My son was not quite two years, my marriage was in trouble and I was alone on a country road almost home but not quite, before the days of mandatory car seats my son lay sleeping on the front seat. All I know we went off the road, ambulance was called by someone (no cell phones in those days) and I remember him (my son) holding my hand in the hospital emergency room. They sat him on the stretcher next to me to keep him calm, but instead he kept me calm. So this song is very real to me so real that 20+ years later. I am a minister of the Gospel and I know Jesus takes the wheel. Thank you for writing my song.

April 01 2010 at 6:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hello Raven

The minute I opened this picture of her, I saw an orb...a small white light to her right...did anyone else see it?

April 01 2010 at 5:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
basseyanso

this is a qualitative song,I hope to see copies of her songs in Nigeria & buy.
Well done Jesus Baby

April 01 2010 at 5:01 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Suhr

Good comments Stacey. Belief in God requires questions be answered. For the faithful, these answers need very little proof. The atheist requires proof that has no faith. Finding proof for the atheist is possible and quite simple. All you need are the right questions.

April 01 2010 at 4:52 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
imurnettie

OMG that is why I don't listen to country .... It's beautiful but gosh the tears never stop falling .... LOL "for real though"

April 01 2010 at 4:43 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply