Country music’s “outlaw’s outlaw,” David Allan Coe, has died at the age of 86.
Coe, a pioneering figure in outlaw country known for gritty storytelling and a fiercely independent persona, died Wednesday, according to statements from his widow and representatives cited in multiple reports. His widow, Kimberly Hastings Coe, confirmed the death to Rolling Stone, calling him “one of the best singers, songwriters, and performers of our time … never to be forgotten,” according to the outlet.
A representative said the singer died in intensive care around 5 p.m. Eastern time, though a cause of death was not immediately disclosed, per Fox News.
Born September 6, 1939, in Akron, Ohio, Coe built a career that blended personal hardship with musical innovation. He spent time in reformatories and prison as a young man, later saying those experiences shaped his songwriting. After his release, he moved to Nashville and recorded his 1970 debut album, “Penitentiary Blues.”
He became a central figure in the outlaw country movement, alongside artists who rejected the polished Nashville sound. Coe wrote classics such as “Take This Job and Shove It,” which became a hit for Johnny Paycheck in 1977, and penned Tanya Tucker’s chart-topping “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone).”
As a performer, he found success with songs including “You Never Even Called Me by My Name,” “The Ride,” and “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile.”
Coe cultivated a loyal fan base and continued performing for decades. He collaborated with a range of artists across genres and even ventured into a country-metal fusion project with members of the band Pantera.
In later years, Coe faced financial and legal troubles, including pleading guilty in 2015 to tax-related charges and being ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution, according to court records cited by Fox. He also experienced health issues, including a reported hospitalization with COVID-19 in 2021.
