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Controversial Country Star David Allan Coe Dies at 86

5/1/2026

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Summary

David Allan Coe Dies

David Allan Coe died on April 29, 2026 at 5:08 p.m., age 86.
He wrote “Take This Job and Shove It” for Johnny Paycheck (1977) and “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” for Tanya Tucker (1973).
His 1978 “Nothing Sacred” and 1982 “Underground Album” featured racist and homophobic lyrics.
In 2015 he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, resulting in a court order to pay $1 million.

Summary

Coe Receives Tributes

Coe attracted over 2.3 million monthly Spotify listeners at the time of his death, showing strong digital demand.
Larry The Cable Guy and Ron White posted tributes on X, recalling shared stage moments and past hangouts with Coe.
Toby Keith served as a witness at Coe’s 2010 wedding, reflecting close Nashville ties.
Tyler Mahan Coe, a podcast host and former band leader, is listed among Coe’s survivors.

Summary

Coe's Legal Fallout

In 2015 Coe pleaded guilty to impeding IRS collection, received three years’ probation and was ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution.
Coe was hospitalized with COVID-19 in 2021, a serious bout that further weakened his health.
In 2019 Coe underwent knee-replacement surgery, a procedure noted in his later-life medical updates.
Coe declared bankruptcy in the early 2000s after mounting debts from touring and publishing royalties.

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David Allan Coe Dies

David Allan Coe died on April 29, 2026 at 5:08 p.m., age 86.
He wrote “Take This Job and Shove It” for Johnny Paycheck (1977) and “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” for Tanya Tucker (1973).
His 1978 “Nothing Sacred” and 1982 “Underground Album” featured racist and homophobic lyrics.
In 2015 he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, resulting in a court order to pay $1 million.

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