Coe: Raw Lyrics and a Mysterious Past

David Allan Coe, the outlaw country singer-songwriter known for the working-class anthem Take This Job and Shove It, has died at the age of 86.

A representative for Coe told People that the musician died around 5 p.m. On April 29, 2026. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Coe’s wife, Kimberly Hastings Coe, confirmed the death to Rolling Stone. She described her husband as one of the best singers and songwriters of our time.

My husband, my friend, my confidant and my life for many years. I’ll never forget him and I don’t want anyone else to ever forget him either

Kimberly Hastings Coe

An Outsider in Nashville

Throughout his career, Coe remained a distinct outlier within the Nashville music establishment. Whether categorized as underground or outlaw, he cultivated a dedicated following centered on his raw, often obscene lyrics and a checkered, mysterious personal history that included a stint in prison.

This outsider persona persisted even as Coe achieved significant commercial success as both a performer and an in-demand songwriter for other artists in the genre.

Songwriting and Recording Legacy

Coe’s influence on country music is highlighted by several major hits he penned for other performers. In 1977, his song Take This Job and Shove It became a hit for Johnny Paycheck. Earlier, in 1974, he wrote Would You Lay With Me (in a Field of Stone), which became a hit for Tanya Tucker.

As a recording artist, Coe achieved his own success with tracks such as The Ride and You Never Even Called Me By My Name.

He also holds a place in country music history as the first country singer to record Tennessee Whiskey. The song, written by Linda Hargrove and Dean Dillon, eventually became a genre standard and a hit for other artists, including Chris Stapleton and George Jones.

Collaborations and Later Years

Coe’s career was marked by collaborations and concert tours with a diverse array of musicians, including Neil Young, Kid Rock, and Willie Nelson.

In recent years, Coe’s public appearances became infrequent. His wife posted on Facebook in September 2021 that he had been hospitalized with COVID-19, and he made few appearances following that period.