David Allan Coe‘s son says the singer was a difficult person to care about, but he never quit trying. His daughter says she was robbed of the chance to say goodbye.
The two messages highlight the fractured relationship Coe had with family.
Tyler Mahan Coe had previously talked about how he believed his father’s new wife was intentionally trying to keep the family apart. DAC’s daughter’s statement on social media seems to double down on that.
“Waking up to the news that your dad has died and not being given the opportunity to see him one last time is a hell I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” musician Tanya Montana Coe shares.
- David Allan Coe died on Thursday (April 29) at age 86.
- As a songwriter he penned hits like “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” by Tanya Tucker and “Take This Job and Shove It” by Johnny Paycheck.
- “The Ride,” “Longhaired Redneck” and “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” are among his best-known songs.
READ MORE: David Allan Coe’s 10 Best Songs
David Allan Coe’s Wife and Kids
As with so many things David Allan Coe-related, it’s difficult to verify facts with regards to his family but most reporting states he was married six times. His first wife was Jody Lynn Benham, with whom he fathered four children: Tyler, Tanya, Shyanne and Carson.
He also has a daughter named Shelli, and a half-brother was born shortly after Tayna was. His name is not known.
Wives two through five are enigmas, but the Boot shares that in 2000, Coe began to date Kimberly Hastings and they married in 2010.
This is who Tyler believes tried to build a wall between DAC and his kids. She was also the one who informed Rolling Stone of Coe’s death this week.
“If anyone finds out about any funeral arrangements, please let me know as I would like to be at my dad’s funeral,” Tanya writes on Instagram.
Taking to his Patreon page, Cocaine & Rhinestones podcast creator Tyler Mahan Coe was blunt.
Jason Kempin, Getty Images
“David Allan Coe was always a difficult person to be close with, a difficult person to care about for several reasons. Nobody who ever knew him would disagree with that statement. But I did always care about him,” he says in a four-minute-long improvised reaction to his father’s death.
He adds that he, too, lost contact with his father years ago — perhaps as early as 2013, as he shared with GQ in 2021 — but he watched from afar with disappointment as some of the man’s decisions added more confusion and drama to his legacy.
“Anyone who knows anything about that man knows how useless it would be to try to get him to make different choices,” TMC says.
“If that were possible, his career would have gone way differently. And his legacy would probably end up being a lot better than whatever it is going to end up being now, presumably some kind of eternally confused and confusing mess.”
Tyler Mahan Coe didn’t express a desire to be at the funeral, but also let it be known that he held a certain affection for his father.
Remembering the Country Stars Who Died in 2026
So far in 2026, country fans have mourned the deaths of a few of their favorite musicians and other large-looming figures of pop culture. Keep reading to remember the singers, musicians, actors and other notable figures we’ve lost so far this year.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
