David Allan Coe, One of the Last True Outlaws, Dies at 86
Country singer David Allan Coe has passed away. His rep confirmed his death on April 29, 2026, at the age of 86, with a statement that read, according to People: “David was a Country Music treasure and loved his fans. Most importantly, he was a true outlaw and A great singer, songwriter, and performer.”
Coe built a reputation in the ’70s and ’80s on songs like “You Never Even Called Me by My Name,” “The Ride,” and “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile,” which often mixed humor with storytelling. He also wrote many hit songs for other performers. Tanya Tucker took “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)” to No. 1, and Johnny Paycheck’s version of “Take This Job and Shove It” became one of the most recognizable country songs of its era, earning Coe his only Grammy nomination.
Kino Lorber/Everett Collection
Born September 6, 1939, in Akron, Ohio, Coe spent much of his youth in reform schools and prisons, where he began writing songs, before heading to Nashville in the late ’60s. He slowly built connections, eventually landing a recording deal and releasing his debut album Penitentiary Blues in 1970.
By the mid-’70s, Coe created a stage persona within the outlaw movement. He performed in rhinestone suits, sometimes wearing a mask as the “Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy.” His 1975 album Once Upon a Rhyme gave him his first breakthrough with “You Never Even Called Me by My Name,” which reached the country Top 10. Albums like Longhaired Redneck and Rides Again followed, helping define his sound and attitude.
His biggest commercial moment as a performer came in the early ’80s. “The Ride,” released in 1983, became a Top 10 hit, and the following year, “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile” climbed to No. 2 on the country charts, marking the highest-charting single of his career. While many fans loved his music, it was not for everyone. Coe was widely criticized for songs that included racial slurs and stereotypes, particularly on a pair of underground albums released in the late ’70s and early ’80s. He denied being racist, but the controversy affected how he was viewed within the industry.
Away from the stage, he faced ongoing financial and legal issues, including a 2015 guilty plea for obstructing the IRS and a 2016 order to pay nearly $1 million in restitution. Despite that, he continued performing for decades, maintaining a loyal audience. Over the course of his career, Coe released more than 40 albums and remained a steady presence on the touring circuit well into his later years.
Coe is survived by his sixth wife, Kimberly, and his children.
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Kings Of Country
March 2022
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