David Allan Coe: Outlaw Country Legend Passes

0:00It's April 30th, from coast to coast. This is US News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Country legend David Allen Coe has passed away at 86. He penned the blue collar classic, take this job and shove it, which Johnny Paycheck turned into a massive hit back in 1977. Coe also scored big with his own tracks like, you never even called me by my name, and the ride, plus he wrote Tanya Tuckers, would you lay with? Me. His wife Kimberly Hastings Coe confirmed the news to Rolling Stone on Wednesday, saying he died around 5 p.m. that day. She called him one of the greatest singers and songwriters ever, her husband, friend, and lifelong partner. Coe hadn't done many shows since getting hit with COVID back in September 2021. Fans and folks in the industry are mourning this outlaw icon, who stayed raw and real outside Nashville's mainstream. He built a wild following with bikers, lawyers, even bankers, thanks to his gritty lyrics and mysterious vibe.

1:02Coe toured with heavy hitters like Willie Nelson and Kid Rock, and he was the first to cut Tennessee whiskey, now a staple for George Jones and Chris Stapleton. From his prison days, Coe turned pain into music, dropping his debut blues album, Penitentiary Blues, with songs he wrote behind bars. He got infamous for those R-rated albums, packed with explicit tracks, sold through Biker Max, stuff he later regretted recording. In 2016, he faced IRS heat, owing nearly a million bucks in back taxes and getting three years probation. Coe's legacy hits hard as that rhinestone rebel who spoke truth from the fringes, leaving anthems that still fire up the working man and rebels alike.