Author Tyler Mahan Coe joins the Museum for an in-depth discussion of his book “Cocaine & Rhinestones: A History of George Jones and Tammy Wynette.” This program was moderated by Museum Writer-Editor Allison Moorer and recorded live on September 14, 2024.

The son of David Allan Coe and the host, producer, and writer of the country music history podcast “Cocaine & Rhinestones,” Coe shares his broad knowledge and unique perspective of the classic country music landscape through the stories of Jones and Wynette. During the program, the author speaks to his labor-intensive creative process and explains the surprising reason why his most reliable source material often comes from oral history recordings with session players and band members rather than the autobiographies of artists themselves. He also discusses Jones’s difficult childhood, the essential role Billy Sherrill played in Wynette’s career, and the complicated dynamic between the two Country Music Hall of Fame singers.

“Cocaine & Rhinestones: A History of George Jones and Tammy Wynette” is based on the second season of Coe’s podcast and features illustrations by Emmy-winning artist Wayne White. Launched in October 2017, the “Cocaine & Rhinestones” podcast quickly became the most listened to series in both the U.S. and the UK within months of its release. The debut season covers a variety of different topics, stories, and character spotlights, including tales about Bobbie Gentry, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, and Don Rich, among others.

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