David Allan Coe, controversial 'outlaw country' pioneer, dies at 86
Key takeaways
- Coe died Wednesday night, his representative David Wade confirmed to The Times.
- The origins of outlaw country music, popular in the 1970s and ‘80s, are largely credited to Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, but Coe was a seminal figure in the subgenre.
- The Ohio-born musician entered a reform school in Michigan at 9 years old and spent the following two decades in and out of correctional facilities.
David Allan Coe, pictured in 1983, has died at age 86. (Mark Humphrey / Associated Press) By Julius Miller Staff Writer Follow April 30, 2026 8:50 AM PT 8 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
David Allan Coe, a controversial figure who helped pioneer the 20th century “outlaw country” musical subgenre, penning hits including “Take This Job and Shove It” and “Would you Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone),” has died.
Coe died Wednesday night, his representative David Wade confirmed to The Times. He was 86. No other details were available.