Outlaw country music icon David Allan Coe died April 29 at the age of 86.
Coe carved out a singular place in country music as one of the defining voices of the outlaw movement, leaving a lasting legacy. His representative told People Coe died at approximately 5:08 pm. The circumstances behind his death were not disclosed.
“David was a Country Music treasure and loved his fans,” his rep said in a statement. “Most importantly, he was a true outlaw and a great singer, songwriter, and performer.”
The country singer-songwriter rose to fame in the 1970s as part of the outlaw country music scene, with songs like “You Never Even Called Me by My Name” and “Longhaired Redneck.” In the 1980s, he scored additional country hits with “The Ride” and “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile.”
Coe was widely criticized for his use of slurs and racial stereotypes in his songs, though he maintained he was not racist. He also faced backlash for frequently using the Confederate flag.
Unapologetically known for his confrontational persona, Coe was best known for hits “You Never Even Called Me by My Name” and “The Ride.”
The star boasted about his time in prison, where he first felt inspired to create music with effect. He served time for a wide range of charges, including grand theft auto and possession of burglary tools. During his time behind bars, he claimed to have killed a fellow inmate. His stories were as bold as the music he created.
His eccentric image and outlaw lifestyle, including driving a hearse around town, turned heads and added to the intrigue of his character.
Coe wrote mainstream hits for Tanya Tucker and Johnny Paycheck, among others.
Tanya Tucker’s rendition of Coe’s song “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” rose to the top of the charts in the Number One spot in 1973, and his hits kept coming.
David Allan Coe, singer of the ‘Perfect Country and Western Song,’ dead at 86 https://t.co/qi67CGTXxZ
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) April 30, 2026
Coe debuted his face mask on the 1974 album “The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy,” and kept the hits coming with “The Ride,” and “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile.” (RELATED: ‘Mission: Impossible’ Star Ving Rhames Reportedly Rushed To Hospital After Sudden Collapse)
Coe’s personal life was as colorful as his music. The country music star was married six times and claimed to be a Mormon polygamist in the 1980s.
Coe’s influence on outlaw country remains undeniable, with generations of artists drawing from the boundary-pushing path he carved and the legacy he left behind.