David Allan Coe Dies at 86: Outlaw Country Star’s Career and Controversies

Seite 1 / 2

News (1 / 1) 30.04.2026 07:41 / Julia

David Allan Coe, the outlaw country singer-songwriter whose career spanned decades, has died at 86, and his life left fans and critics divided. Read on to discover the full story!

Early life and rise

Born in Akron, Ohio, in 1939, Coe was sent to reform school at 9 and spent much of the following two decades in correctional facilities. He discovered music while incarcerated, was released in 1967 and moved to Nashville, busking before releasing his 1970 debut, Penitentiary Blues.

Hits and career

Coe became part of the 1970s outlaw country scene with records like The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy (1974), Once Upon a Rhyme (1975) featuring "You Never Even Called Me by My Name," Longhaired Redneck (1976) and Rides Again (1977). He wrote No. 1 songs recorded by Tanya Tucker and Johnny Paycheck, and later returned to the charts with "The Ride" and "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile." He released over 40 studio albums.