He even wrote himself into his own legend, singing, “But the only time I know I’ll hear ‘David Allan Coe’ / Is when Jesus has His final judgment day.”
That self-referential style carried through much of his work, including songs like “Longhaired Redneck,” “Willie, Waylon and Me,” and “Son of the South.”
Though his biggest commercial success came in the 1970s, Coe proved his staying power. In 1983, he staged a comeback with Castles in the Sand, featuring the fan-favorite track “The Ride.”
His influence stretched far beyond his own recordings. Coe also penned “Take This Job and Shove It,” a No. 1 hit for Johnny Paycheck that became a blue-collar anthem.
Even in his later years, Coe never stepped away from the stage, continuing to release music and perform for devoted fans.
David Allen Coe performs to a sold out crowd during Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic at The Backyard on July 4, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Gary Miller/FilmMagic)
But his legacy is complex. Coe drew heavy criticism for controversial material in albums like Nothing Sacred (1978) and Underground Album (1982), which included racial slurs and misogynistic language. He later defended the work as parody, though the backlash never fully faded.
He also faced legal troubles later in life. In 2015, Coe pleaded guilty to obstructing IRS laws and was sentenced the following year to three years of probation, along with nearly $1 million in back taxes.
On the personal side, Coe married his sixth wife, Kimberly Hastings, in 2010. He is survived by her and his children.
