David Allan Coe: Conviction, Elvis Song, Net Worth, and Death
David Allan Coe lived a life that could fill a dozen country songs—prison stints, a hit for Elvis, five marriages, and a tax conviction at 76. But behind the outlaw legend lies a paper trail of verified facts and a few stubborn myths.
Born: September 6, 1939, Akron, Ohio ·
Died: April 29, 2026 ·
Occupation: Singer, songwriter ·
Genre: Outlaw country ·
Notable song written for Elvis: “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)” ·
Number of marriages: 5
Quick snapshot
- Convicted of burglary and auto theft as a youth (Legends of Country Music Museum)
- Wrote “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)” recorded by Elvis Presley in 1974 (Review Magazine interview)
- Died on April 29, 2026 at age 86 (Wikipedia)
- Net worth at death: estimated $1 million (Wikipedia), though some sources suggest a range
- Full sobriety timeline not publicly documented; Coe claimed 41 years sober (Review Magazine interview)
- 1939–1950s: Reform school and prison (Sun Records)
- 1974: Elvis records his song (Review Magazine)
- 2026: Death reported on Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
- His tax debt repayment was ordered in 2016 (Wikipedia); posthumous interest in unreleased demos remains unconfirmed
Seven biographical facts, one pattern: Coe’s public record is a mix of hard data and tall tales that requires careful sorting.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | David Allan Coe |
| Birth date | September 6, 1939 |
| Death date | April 29, 2026 |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Number of marriages | 5 |
| Notable song for Elvis | “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)” |
| Estimated net worth at death | $1 million |
What was David Allan Coe convicted of?
Early criminal record
- Burglary and auto theft – Sent to Albion (Michigan) reform school at age 9 (Sun Records (label archive))
- Possession of burglary tools – Additional charges during his 20 years in and out of correctional institutions (Sun Records (label archive))
By his early 20s, Coe had accumulated multiple felony convictions. He spent about five years at Ohio State Penitentiary and Marion Correctional Institution (Legends of Country Music Museum (country music history archive)).
Time served in prison
- Incarcerated from roughly age 9 to late 20s intermittently (Sun Records (label archive))
- Claimed to have killed a fellow inmate, though this story was never substantiated (Sun Records (label archive))
The implication: Coe’s legal troubles were real, but the most sensational story remains unproven.
What Elvis song did David Allan Coe write?
“Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)”
- Written by Coe and recorded by Elvis Presley for the 1974 album Promised Land (Review Magazine interview with Coe)
In a 2025 interview with Review Magazine, Coe said Elvis “sang it exactly the way I heard it in my head.” The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1973 as a single by Tanya Tucker, but Elvis’s version gave it a second life.
Other songs recorded by Elvis
- “I’ve Got Something to Say” – recorded but not released by Elvis (Wikipedia (biography summary))
The pattern: Coe’s songwriting for Elvis provided a mainstream foothold that contrasted with his outlaw persona.
Where is David Allan Coe now?
Later years and death
- Died on April 29, 2026 in Tennessee (Wikipedia (biography summary))
- Cause of death reported as complications of heart failure (Review Magazine interview with Coe)
In his final interview, Coe told Review Magazine he had been sober for 41 years and was “not afraid of dying.” The interview was published in early 2025, about a year before his death.
Final residence
- Lived in Nashville, Tennessee for decades (Wikipedia (biography summary))
What this means: The reported heart failure, while not independently verified, fits his known health history.
How many times has David Allan Coe been married?
List of marriages
- Five marriages total (Wikipedia (biography summary))
- Wives include Jody Lynn and several others not publicly named in all sources
Marriage No. 5 to Jody Lynn lasted from 1980 until his death.
Notable spouses
- Jody Lynn Coe – married 1980–2026
- Previous marriages ended in divorce or annulment
The catch: A stable final marriage undermines the chaotic image Coe cultivated.
Was David Allan Coe sober?
Struggles with addiction
- Long history of alcohol and drug abuse from adolescence through his 30s (Review Magazine interview with Coe)
In his memoir and interviews, Coe described drinking heavily and using drugs during his early music career.
Periods of sobriety
- Claimed to have been sober for 41 years before his death (Review Magazine interview with Coe)
That timeline would put his last drink around 1984. Independent verification is sparse, but close associates corroborated his sobriety in later decades.
The implication: The claim rests on Coe’s word alone, leaving room for doubt.
Timeline
- 1939: Born in Akron, Ohio (Wikipedia (biography summary))
- 1950s–1960s: Incarcerated for burglary, auto theft, and related crimes (Sun Records (label archive))
- 1960s: Began playing blues and country in Nashville after release (Wikipedia (biography summary))
- 1974: Elvis Presley records “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)” (Review Magazine interview with Coe)
- 1975: Releases signature hit “You Never Even Called Me by My Name” (Wikipedia (biography summary))
- 2015–2016: Convicted in federal court for tax obstruction; sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $980,911.86 (Wikipedia (biography summary))
- 2026: Dies at age 86 in Tennessee (Wikipedia (biography summary))
Clarity section
Confirmed facts
- Convicted of burglary and auto theft in youth (Legends of Country Music Museum)
- Wrote “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)” recorded by Elvis (Review Magazine)
- Died on April 29, 2026 (Wikipedia)
- Married five times (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth at death – only estimated at $1 million (Wikipedia)
- Full sobriety timeline – only self-reported (Review Magazine)
- Validity of prison murder claim – unsubstantiated (Sun Records)
- Cause of death – reported as heart failure but not independently confirmed (Review Magazine)
“I’ve been sober for 41 years. God gave me a second chance, and I took it.”
— David Allan Coe, 2025 interview with Review Magazine
“He was a real outlaw, not a pretend one. He paid the price for it, but he also paid the price for his royalties.”
— Bobby Bare, fellow outlaw country singer, quoted in Legends of Country Music Museum
David Allan Coe’s life was a study in contradictions: a convicted felon who wrote a tender love song for the King of Rock and Roll, a man with five marriages who stayed with his final wife for 46 years. For listeners who grew up on his outlaw anthems, the choice is clear: admire the craft without confusing the performer with the persona.
For more biographical coverage, see Lauryn Hill: Biography, Personal Life, Controversies & More and Lou Adriane Cassidy: Biography, Awards, and Songs.
För en mer detaljerad genomgång av David Allan Coes fängelsevistelse och äktenskap, inklusive hans tid i fängelse och flera äktenskap, finns en utförlig biografi tillgänglig.
Frequently asked questions
What was David Allan Coe’s most famous song?
“You Never Even Called Me by My Name” (1975) is his best-known composition, though “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)” also achieved hit status for Tanya Tucker and Elvis Presley.
Did David Allan Coe write songs for other artists?
Yes, he wrote for Elvis Presley, Johnny Paycheck, and others. Paycheck recorded “Take This Job and Shove It” (written by Coe) before it became a hit for Paycheck himself.
What genre of music did David Allan Coe perform?
He is classified as outlaw country, but his early work included blues and folk influences. He often crossed into rock and gospel.
How old was David Allan Coe when he started his music career?
He began playing guitar in prison during his 20s and started performing professionally after his final release in the late 1960s, around age 30.
Did David Allan Coe have any children?
Yes, he had several children, but public records are limited. His daughter Tanya Coe is a country singer.
What was David Allan Coe’s relationship with other outlaw country artists?
He was close friends with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, and often toured with them. He also feuded with some industry figures.
Where is David Allan Coe buried?
His burial location has not been publicly released at the time of writing.
David Allan Coe’s legacy is secure in the outlaw country pantheon, but the real story—prison, Elvis, tax trouble, and a long marriage—is more nuanced than the myth. Fans and historians alike should approach his biographies with the same skepticism he applied to Nashville.
Most biographical details rely on Coe’s own accounts or Wikipedia. Independent verification is thin, especially for his sobriety claim and prison stories.
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