Cocaine and Rhinestones: A History of George Jones and Tammy Wynette

by Tyler Mahan Coe, Wayne White (illustrator)

From the creator of the acclaimed country music history podcast Cocaine & Rhinestones, comes the epic American saga of country music’s legendary royal couple—George Jones and Tammy Wynette.By the early 1960s nearly everybody paying attention to country music agreed that George Jones was the greatest country singer of all time. After taking honky-tonk rockers like “White Lightning” all the way up the country charts, he revealed himself to be an unmatched virtuoso on “She Thinks I Still Care,” thus cementing his status as a living legend. That’s where the trouble started. Only at this new level of fame did Jones realize he suffered from extreme stage fright. His method of dealing with that involved great quantities of alcohol, which his audience soon discovered as Jones more often than not showed up to concerts falling-down drunk or failed to show up at all. But the fans always forgave him because he just kept singing so damn good. Then he got married to Tammy Wynette right around the time she became one of the most famous women alive with the release of “Stand by Your Man.” Tammy Wynette grew up believing George Jones was the greatest country singer of all time. After deciding to become a country singer herself, she went to Nashville, got a record deal, then met and married her hero. With the pop crossover success of “Stand by Your Man” (and the international political drama surrounding the song’s lyrics) came a gigantic audience, who were sold a fairy tale image of a couple soon being called The King and Queen of Country Music. Many fans still believe that fairy tale today. The behind-the-scenes truth is very different from the images shown on album covers. Illustrated throughout by singular artist Wayne White, Cocaine & Rhinestones is an unprecedented look at the lives of two indelible country icons, reframing their careers within country music as well as modern history itself.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Biography Memoir, Audiobook

512 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2024

Reviews

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an early copy of this book, though not because I’m a book reviewer or anything like that. No one asked me to review it. I am just a rhinestone enthusiast who reads a lot.

It showed up on my doorstep Saturday night, it’s now Monday evening, and I’m just putting it down. It was that good.

I loved the first season of Cocaine and Rhinestones, but I had completely burned out on podcasts as a whole by the time the second season came out and didn’t make it through the whole thing. I was into the content, just not the format, so I’ve been looking forward to this book since it was announced. And I had high hopes for it, even though every single other book by a podcaster that I’ve read has been terrible. Thankfully, it didn’t take long to see that this one was in an entirely different class than those I’ve read before.

This book is well written, clearly impeccably researched, and while I might not agree with all of the more subjective notions put forth on what is or isn’t “the best”, I’m certainly not prepared to argue with the author on any of them, because he defends his opinions exceptionally well.

It was funny at times, very sad at others, altogether very thoughtful, engaging and entertaining.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering how singular and arresting the second season of the Cocaine & Rhinestones podcast was, it seems almost impossible to have rendered it in book form with quite the same impact.

And in truth it doesn’t pack quite the wallop that the podcast did. But it’s about as successful in transforming one media form into another as you could hope for. The mix of formal history and acerbic irreverence that is Tyler Mahan Coe’s authorial voice (for C&R) is basically preserved here. Also, the segues between Western civilization history and country music history arguably hang together better in book form than they did on the podcast. If the overall picture of the connections being made between the two hasn’t formed for you in the penultimate chapter (“For the Roses”), it likely won’t form at all. Not to mention the corrections of erroneous accounts by both George Jones and Tammy Wynette are essential, so it’s great that they’re preserved in a new form by this book.

Now, if you listened to the second season, little of the material here will be new. (The biggest difference is the absence of certain material about the Nashville A-Team and the story of legendary-but-still-underrated songwriter Dallas Frazier, the latter of which was a crucial highlight of the podcast.) So I can understand not wanting to buy the book (at least in its textbook-style hardcover edition). But as someone who listened to that podcast season multiple times, the reading experience never felt tedious even when it was familiar. And the illustrations by Wayne White are astonishing by any objective standard.

Bottom line: Every fan of country music who takes the genre more seriously than caring what’s on the radio should read this, listen to the podcast, or both. Get it from the library if you don’t want to buy it, but read it.

[Tim Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Tyler Mahan Coe's podcast "Cocaine and Rhinestones" since the beginning, and the second season of that show, detailing the lives of George Jones and Tammy Wynette, is a masterpiece. This book is adapted from that second season and was a very enjoyable read. Coe's breadth and depth of research has enabled him to cut through all the lies, deception and legends to present the true story of "The Greatest Country Singer Ever" and "The First Lady of Country Music."

If you have listened to and enjoyed the podcast there is very little that will be new to you here, but reading this story has enhanced my enjoyment of Coe's storytelling method I had a good time revisiting this story (and in turn listening to a lot of George & Tammy). In short, this was a fantastic book and should be a must read for any fan of country music.

[EuroHackie · Rating 1 out of 5]

300 pages in, and it's time to cut bait.

This is certainly a history, with that "a" doing a lot of heavy lifting. The other reviewers are right - you can quite literally skip the odd-numbered chapters and nothing of value is lost. That's the first clue.

The 60% I read was a slog. This author has never met an axe he doesn't enjoy grinding (witness his tedious examination of who the real architect of the Nashville Sound was), and by the time he got around to introducing the second person this book is ostensibly about (more than 150 pages in), his agenda is pretty clear. He introduces Tammy Wynette by saying she had a tenuous grasp on reality; she is a lying liar who lies, and thus, nothing she says can ever be the truth. She is portrayed as a temptress/seductress/whore who lured George Jones into her world (of lies) and proceeded to destroy him. Never mind the fact that he is already well-known as No-Show Jones. Never mind the fact that he already has a serious drinking problem. After all, his behavior can be excused: he had a shitty childhood, and the immense pressure of being labeled The Greatest Country Singer Ever, and of course his unrequited love for his duet partner Melba Montgomery (even though he was married to wife #2 and had two kids at home). How else was he supposed to cope with all this other than to drink steadily until he either blacked out, trashed the place, or descended into violence? Poor man obviously had no agency of his own. And then here comes the siren who would wreck his life in a few short years. Never mind the fact that Jones started doing cocaine after he split from Wynette; she was too busy marrying her next couple of husbands whilst blaming Jones for everything that subsequently went wrong in her life.

The author's allegiances are clear, and he only goes deeper into tinfoil hat territory with his discussion of the "characters" they played, strictly for media and fans, as if there is some sort of kayfabe going on. By page 300 I was not convinced the author himself wasn't on cocaine, and I don't care to find out. I can 1000% believe that he is, as another reviewer put it, a belligerent dick in real life.

Other work has been written about Jones, Wynette, and country music in general - I suggest going to those other sources instead.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

First third is an unnecessarily detailed summary of niche country music history so specific and unguided, its audience is a mystery. Every odd numbered chapter is a brief history of a random subject, the symbolism of each as subtle to the overall story as a brick to the head. Accounts of Jones and Wynette are good when sticking to details, but commonly interrupted by author's personal feelings that drag on and fail to justify relevance.

Skip it, read 'Tragic Country Queen' instead.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler Mahan Coe is my EXACT brand of nerd. Thoroughly researched, with deep dives and tangents into things Coe makes connections to (it’s his book, anyway), we’re along for the ride and I, for one, dig it the most.

[Josebud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someday I will write a review of this amazing book but for now just know that it's about so much more than cocaine, rhinestones, George Jones and Tammy Wynette!

[Luann]

Lame. "Author" seemed to just "copy/paste" from previous publications of Tammy and George books, articles and magazines. Repeatedly reports erroneously incorrect quotes from Tammy on the subject of her not being "completely accurate" or "how could she possibly remember" any of the life events in this story.

[Dolphine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The chapters of random stuff should be cut.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book, but if you've listened to his epic series of podcasts about Jones, you won't learn much new here. Docked a star because Coe is such a belligerent dick in real life.

[Robert Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Jones and Tammy Wynette are known as “the King and Queen of Country Music.” Their marriage lasted only a few years, but for decades after, fans believed that they naturally belonged together. As author Tyler Mahan Coe shows in COCAINE & RHINESTONES, however, they were two broken people who could never have healed each other. Jones was severely addicted to alcohol and (later) cocaine, suffered from intense stage fright and a feeling of unworthiness, and mismanaged his finances to horrendous degrees (He was known to light bills on fire and stuff bills down toilets.). Wynette, meanwhile, was a habitual liar and prescription drug addict whose health increasingly worsened. Her last husband - to whom she was married for twenty years - was controlling, manipulative and abusive, and may have played a role in her death.

The best historians are often not the best storytellers and vice versa. Coe is that rare specimen who is gifted at both. The COCAINE & RHINESTONES book adapts the second season of the same-titled podcast, for which Coe conducted exhaustive research. While the book doesn’t include footnotes or a bibliography, Coe does list sources on his website. It takes more than research to make a good historian, mind you, and Coe possesses two other important qualities: He’s able to place events in a wider context for better understanding, and he’s quick to detect untruths. For the first part, readers will likely learn more than expected about the music business in Nashville, the culture of each time frame covered…and even some unexpected, but surprisingly connected topics such as Spanish bullfighting, pinball and Catherine de Medici (more on all that later). For the latter part, Coe shows an impressive knack for catching inconsistencies in peoples’ accounts and determining why they lied.

As a storyteller, Coe is unconventional. The text contains plenty of “f bombs,” e.g., and Coe is often not shy about his opinions - which, to be fair, he does back up with research. It’s this sort of “straight shooter” persona that has gained him so many followers as a podcaster, and it translates surprisingly well to book form. As an historian myself, I’ve long bemoaned that most historical writing isn’t particularly accessible. Whatever his faults, Coe certainly captures your attention, and you’ll be surprised by how much you learn. More importantly perhaps, you’ll be surprised by how much you understand, given, again, how deftly Coe places events in larger contexts.

That brings us to those “unexpected topics,” which include (among others), Spanish bullfighting, pinball, Catherine de Medici, moonshine, the history of soap operas, the history of U.S. drag competitions, Western wear, Buffalo Bill Cody, cocaine and - yes - rhinestones. On the podcast, Coe covers these in preludes to individual episodes. Here, they are covered in separate chapters, albeit relatively brief ones. A reader wishing to skip these and stick to the chapters on George Jones and Tammy Wynette can certainly do so. I recommend reading them, though, as they’re quite educational, and it’s fun to work out the connections to the main narrative. Sometimes, the connections are tangential - the chapter on moonshine, e.g., immediately precedes the chapter in which Jones has a hit song with “White Lightning.” The soap opera chapter ties into Wynette’s love of that genre. These “aside chapters” often connect to each other, as well - Catherine de Medici, e.g., comes up repeatedly, and fashion history becomes another thread (pun intended) running through many.

Country music is often deemed a genre for “dumb rednecks” and thus, I wondered if Coe’s diversions into such scholarly topics weren’t a form of overcompensation - a way to show that country music fans can be intelligent. While I can’t read the man’s mind, I will say that I enjoyed these “asides” myself and loved telling people what I had learned (It turned out that my wife - much to my chagrin - already knew more about Catherine de Medici than what was relayed in this book, but you can’t win them all!). I appreciate when a book makes me feel smarter for having read it, and this is one such book.

I noted that the book adapts Season 2 of the titular podcast. Will the podcast listeners find it worthwhile? It was worthwhile to me, because the two formats provide different experiences. The podcast format more easily enables Coe to diverge onto tangents (Notably, podcast episodes on songwriter Dallas Frazier and the Nashville A Team are not adapted in the book.) and to play samples of music that he discusses. Certainly, there are benefits to this, but in this book, the narrative becomes more concise, and I found it easier to keep track of the chronology of events. I also appreciated being able to flip back and review parts (It’s much easier than rewinding.) when I needed a memory refresher, and of course, an index can also come in handy. Finally, the book includes a cover and chapter illustrations by famed artist Wayne White - a nice little bonus not possible on a podcast.

Generally, I’d say that anyone who enjoys the COCAINE & RHINESTONES podcast will enjoy this book, and vice versa. One can easily become a gateway to the other. If you at all like country music history, or just enjoy learning things in an entertaining manner, then you should find yourself at home here.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I'm both in a great and terrible position to review this book, as I listened to the podcast version as it came out and it quickly became my favorite non-fiction narrative of any medium that I've ever consumed (which is saying something because most of my reading diet is non-fiction). As such, I urge you to consume this story. Whereas most music writers focus on the biography of the artists and only briefly touch on the impact of the art, Coe is one of the few people who tells the complete story of the music. You will learn an exhaustive amount about the life and times of George Jones and Tammy Wynette by engaging with this story, but you will learn even more about the world that created that music and how that music impacted that world.

However, as someone who has obsessed over the podcast and had a certain hyper-vigilance to Coe's changes, I have different reviews depending on your background.

If you are not familiar with the music this book is about I encourage you to listen to the podcast, as this story will lose a certain emotional weight without the excerpts of songs themselves. They provide a vital illustration of the development of the sounds that Coe documents, and allow for a certain emotional connection to the singers who are featured prominently in this story that one cannot get by merely reading about their lives on a page without consuming their work.

If you are familiar with the music but have not listened to the podcast I think you could go either way, honestly, depending on what your priorities are. The podcast is in some ways more compelling simply because Tyler's podcast persona adds a certain urgency and weight to every word he says that would be tonally inappropriate in a serious historical book like this, and it is easier to connect his analysis to the actual work he's discussing when the story uses excerpts of that work. However, the podcast also brushes over some things that really did need further examination and more serious critique. The episode about Billy Sherrill is particularly incomplete, glossing over his background at FAME Studios and oversimplifying his (usually performative) political extremism. I urge you to either listen to the podcast or read the book, but each telling has subtle differences that make them great in slightly different ways.

If you listened to the podcast and want more I highly recommend this book. I love the podcast, when it was first coming out I'd give it an A++, but after a relisten or two I knocked it down to an A because of some minor gripes I had with the perspective. In the podcast, there's times where Coe tells things from George's perspective in ways that obscure the horrors he commits -- whereas Tammy's stunts and cover ups are held up against the fire of the facts repeatedly, George's assertion that his drug dealer is spying on him and forcing him to do drugs is never dismantled in the same way. His attitude when discussing the same topics in the book does not play into this same double standard. The coverage of Billy Sherrill is the most dramatic improvement in the book vs the podcast, as the significance of R&B to his musical background is properly illustrated, his questionable role in the relationship between George and Tammy's public personas vs George and Tammy's actual marriage is addressed in a more meaningful way, and his contrarian nature is discussed in greater detail and with more nuance than existed in the podcast. The intros are also improved in subtle ways. The history of rhinestone suits and Nudie Cohn filled in some gaps that had confused me in the podcast, and there were some subtle changes in his use of language during the discussion of sumptuary laws and drag that I, as a trans woman, really appreciated (especially since he had already gotten it so right in the podcast).

If you've read this far, you've got enough information to decide if you want to read the book or listen to the podcast. All I have to conclude this with is that this is truly the most exceptional and masterfully crafted history of a musical artist that I have ever had the extraordinary pleasure of consuming, and you owe it to yourself to engage with this story, as it has more insight to offer than any other book about music I've ever read.

[Jesse Wiedel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed all the detailed analysis of George and Tammy's lives in this book. A lot of this stuff is just not covered in other bios. The parts I appreciated most were about all the recording sessions, and the deep dive into the album tracks. It left me wishing there were in existence "The White Lightnin' Sessions" or "George Jones Live with DeeDoodle". Some of the random, unrelated chapters kind of felt like album filler tracks on a Billy Sherrill production-some were unnecessary, but others maybe better than the hits. Excellent illustrations by Wayne White!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cocaine and Rhinestones: A History of George Jones and Tammy Wynette by Tyler Mahan Coe is a 2025 Simon & Schuster publication.

This deep dive int the lives of two legendary country music icons, is named after the author’s podcast, by the same name. I’ve never listened to it, but I was drawn to this book after watching the Showtime drama, “George and Tammy”. I think this book complements the dramatized-on screen portrayal of the couple nicely- though this book really takes it to the next level.

The book’s format stands out as particularly engaging. Each chapter begins with a historical vignette that not only sets the stage but also inspires further investigation. These introductions were, in my opinion, the most captivating part of the book and a testament to Coe’s skill as a storyteller. His background, as the son of country musician David Allen Coe, lends him a unique perspective.

But when it comes to George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s personal and professional lives, the narrative delves into murky and exhausting drama. While I enjoy drama in fictional contexts, witnessing the real-life chaos of these two figures- especially Tammy, who seemed to thrive on high-stakes theatrics- was nearly overwhelming. Their story is equal parts shocking and heartbreaking, a true trainwreck that is impossible to look away from. Their personal flaws, from self-absorption to manipulative tendencies, paint a picture of two broken individuals grappling with immense physical and emotional pain, which ultimately led to addiction and misery. Despite this, their undeniable musical legacy casts a long shadow, influencing generations of artists.

Coe’s analysis of their music and its allegorical meanings adds depth but occasionally veers into philosophical territory that I found less interesting. While I sometimes disagreed with his interpretations, I know his perspective is well-informed, likely shaped by his close ties to the industry.

Though I did not find George or Tammy likeable- Tammy was a particularly hard, bitter pill to swallow- their story is a wild ride, for sure, one that underlines the chasm between public personas and private realities. Coe’s unique approach to profiling them, blending history with personal insight, makes this book a riveting saga. Coe has a knack for writing history, which is maybe something he should explore someday.

Overall, this is a well-written biography, and a thought-provoking account of two country music legends whose lives were as tumultuous as their songs were influential … or in some cases, controversial. While the book did begin to run out of steam a bit towards the end, it’s a worthwhile read for fans of country music or history- or if you just like character studies that examine the complexities of fame and artistry.

4 stars

[skip thurnauer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is George Jones the greatest country singer of all times and is “He Stopped Loving Her Today” the greatest (sad) country song? Author Tyler Mahan Coe seems to think so. The author chronicles Jones’s life, tumultuous relationship with Tammy Wynette, and his battles with booze and drugs. Maybe the detail on contracts, producers, agents, etc. might appeal to a real aficionado, but it was too deep in the weeds for me. This was further complicated by the looping back and forth in time and the retelling of some of the same stories from only slightly different perspectives. Many familiar country stars are featured in George’s life and this story and I found the collaborations and covers of each other’s songs interesting. While I’m not sure how some of the chapter openings related to the story, I found them to be among the most engaging content in the book - the invention of pinball machines, bullfighting (country performers’ outfits?), moonshine making (NASCAR heritage), cowboys (boots and western attire?), the Holy Roman Empire and Queen Catherine(??), Martin Luther (?), history of cocaine and Coca-Cola (George’s drug of choice), Wild Bill Cody, burlesque and g-strings. George found his fame and fortune thrust upon him and was unable to handle the pressures. In the later years of his life, he had stage fright and sought to minimize his stage and live appearance time. Tammy Wynette maybe wasn’t as crazy as George, but created her own alternative reality. Together they created some great music and were also an explosive combination - flame, fuel, and oxygen. The final chapter, “BabyBoy”, deals with George’s parents, his birth and childhood, and his early love for country music. It tells of George’s first paying street corner gigs and his early stage performances right up to his enlistment in the Marines. Because of the deep weeds and repetition I sped through some of the content and I don’t think I missed anything at all.

[David Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cocaine & Rhinestones : A History of George Jones and Tammy Wynette by Tyler Mahan Coe (Simon & Schuster 2024) (780.92) (4019).

A tip of the cap to the author for a great book title. I am given to understand that Tyler Mahan Coe hosts a podcast named Cocaine & Rhinestones from whence the book title was lifted. I trust that the podcast’s content works better than the book’s content, for I found nothing to praise about this offering book other than its clever name.

This is not much of a book, and a great deal of the content is not reflected or represented in the title. Granted, some of this book (a nominal percentage) has to do with George Jones, Tammy Wynette, or cocaine, but I completely missed the point of the titular reference to rhinestones. My sense is that the author has printed up and pasted together transcripts lifted from his oral podcast programming and has simply deemed it a “book.” The reference to “oral programming” in the last sentence was completely intentional, for the entire book sounds like a printout of a rant from someone on a days-long speed or cocaine binge.

Even more mystifying was the author’s selection of content. For some unexplained reason, the author inserted a number of chapters that have nothing to do with the book or the title. Those strange chapters are completely unrelated to any of the rest of the volume or to a common thread. It’s as though the author of a book about fish biology chose to include chapters on kite flying and metallurgy either (1) because he found those topics interesting, or (more likely) (2) because he had already researched and prepared a speech or document on those unrelated topics and simply needed somewhere to shoehorn them in on a print run.

Whatever.

Great title, abhorrent execution. Don’t waste a moment of your life on this mess.

My rating: 4/10, finished 1/28/25 (4019).

[Greg Talbot · Rating 2 out of 5]

"A Good Year for the Roses" is the podcast episode that hooked me onto the monumental love story of George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Their story seems to spin up the mythology of country songs darker sides. Drinking, self-destructive tendencies, money woes, adultery, and loose living. It's a pretty great episode, and seems to be the impetus for this book.

Unfortunately this book didn't do much for me. My first attempt to read book failed last fall, and it's a lot of pages to take on. For a person who wants to be immersed in the history of American roots and country music, maybe it will be worth reading. It's pretty clear, and other reviewers point this out as well, Coe could remove the intersitial chapters that do not map to the primary story. These stories include sections about kings, Hemingway, and cooking. I could imagine them as little blurbs, in a differently formatted book.

Despite all the length, the book just doesn't have enough to say. I'd imagine a season or two of a podcast is perfectly fine. Now, the music of George Jones, Tammy Wynette and other country progenitors, that is another story. It's well worth your time to listen to the early Starday records. I'd also like to read another book that explores how country music became so siloed in modern modern music.

Read if you choose too, and don't feel bad if you slide through some pages that just put you to sleep.

[D. E. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is exclusively for the audio-version, and the audio-version is perhaps why I lowered the rating of this book slightly.

As I have mentioned in some of my previous reviews, I am not someone who has a great deal of interest in music. As such, I might have been the wrong audience for what was a very detailed story about two titanic figures in American country music. Coe traces the lives, careers, and legacies of two performers very well, and spares no punches. He is both humorous and direct, calling things out as he feels he needs to, and stating his opinions firmly.

However, it is in stating his opinions where it felt like he might be talking down to the audience if you didn't agree with his point of view. A very particular point about his language was how Coe used of superlatives, the number of times he calls something "the best" or "the most important" for example felt excessive. Also, some of the digressions (talking about Catherine de Medici, roses in Western culture, bull-fighting, authenticity vs. realness and how they impacted Drag Culture...) while potentially interesting, they were only tangentially related and really didn't offer much to the stories of Wynette or Jones. In the audio version, I feel I missed out on some of the art, and was overwhelmed by the number of references to different songs/recordings. And finally, there were times where I felt like the same line was repeated twice in a row, and it removed me from the story.

Overall, I think this is the sort of thing that I would recommend in print to fans of country music.

[RebL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't yet born when George Jones and Tammy Wynette first got together, 6 when they got divorced, 23 when Tammy was fighting with Hillary Clinton and 29 when Tammy died. Even though we didn't listen to country music radio growing up, everyone know the songs, and their partnership was inescapable.

This book is deeply fascinating, deeply researched and deeply disturbing, and worth your while. Like don't even bother watching the "George and Tammy" miniseries. This right here is the real straight dope you want. If you listened to season 2 of the excellent podcast of this same name, you have basically already know the story. However, the book is a bit more smooth, since it's designed to be read, unlike the serialized format of the podcast, which during season 2 had me ON TENTERHOOKS waiting for the next episode to drop. The book seems like it's a bit more cohesive storytelling as well, like Coe was taking his shot at doing over any rough edges from his podcast writing.

The original illustrations by Wayne White are a nice touch.

ALSO: CANNOT WAIT FOR SEASON 3, whenever and whatever that ends up being. I can't imagine how Coe is going to top this but I sure hope he tries.

[Joab Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each generation gets its own pop stars, and, for the most part, disregards the aging heroes of the previous generation. This is difficult for the celebrities themselves. By the time they hit the oldies circuit, they should have some riches stashed, but this is rarely the case. In the early 80s, when George Jones had his biggest hit, "He Stopped Loving Her Today," he was living in a car around Nashville, his life consumed by cocaine and lawsuits from the missing gigs his manager signed him up for unbeknownst to Jones. His ex-wife, Tammy Wynette, famous for "Stand By Your Man," was fading rapidly and surrounded by a team of sycophants. She would happily take a good husband over riches, but that Husband never showed up in her life.

This is deeply engaging but often frustrating book, with entire chapters devoted topics often ephemeral to country music about topics such as bull fighting and pinball machines. Coe delves deep into the Nashville archives though, even if he is partial to Jones Over Wynette. Wynette could sing a song with a distinctive voice, but Jones could sing a song differently each night, depending on how the mood struck him.

[Monty Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end of the Acknowledgments page, the author mentions House of Leaves and Twin Peaks: The Return as inspirations for the way he chose to tell the story. That’s presumably why every other chapter (the introductory segment of each episode when it was a podcast) discusses seemingly irrelevant topics like pinball and bullfighting.

The topics aren’t really irrelevant, of course. I believe you’re supposed to keep them in mind while reading, so that when pinball or bullfighting come up later, you see the connections. That’s what I did, anyway, and I found it a rewarding experience.

I’d already listened to the podcast, which is full of helpful audio clips. If you’re not familiar with George Jones, Tammy Wynette, and a whole lot of country music history, reading this in book form practically requires occasional Spotify/YouTube binges. Luckily, most of the songs referenced are very entertaining listens. Turns out this popular genre is full of people who know what they’re doing.

Oh, I should mention that this book is thoroughly researched (some people say it’s over-researched, which I don’t think is a thing) and entertainingly written.

[Peter Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a country music hater for a good chunk of my life before getting over myself and appreciating it for what it is. After coming around, I started listening to the podcast Cocaine and Rhinestones by Tyler Mahan Coe of which I quickly became a big fan. So it didn't take much convincing for me to buy this book which is based off the 2nd season centered around the story of George Jones and Tammy Wynette. The book somewhat follows the format of the 2nd season in which Coe will start talking about a seemingly unrelated topic like pinball, bullfighting, or drag shows, with the link to Jones/Wynette only being revealed once he gets into their story. Both singers, despite their legendary statuses, are fairly tragic, if not sometimes outright despicable, figures, but that makes for a good read while simultaneously providing a pretty broad look at country music history. If you have any interest in the genre or are open to reading a great book about it, check this out.

[LG · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to all of Season 1 of Coe's podcast.
Most episodes in season 1 are 5 stars in my book and many vivid moments that I continue to think about.

I listened to half of Season 2 and then waited for the book.
Season 2 (a major foundation for the book) and this book are more uneven.
I would recommend listening to the podcast to see if Tyler Mahan Coe's style is your thing.
He enjoys agitating his listeners. He enjoys challenging monolithic visions that glitter.
He is interested in unmasking the marketing of a music star and getting at the messy backstory, which is really quite depressing for Wynette and Jones.
Also, he really commits to a tangent. I like tangents, and I think they can be more interesting than the main story. If you are looking for a locked in look at Wynette and Jones, this is not the book for you.

[Heidi B · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title was misleading to me. Out of the 26 hours of this audiobook, maybe a third was about George and Tammy.

The book covered world history, like the origins of cowboys and their boots, Martin Luther, and the Medici family, just to name a few. I didn't understand how these random topics pertained to the story.

This book also covered just about everyone who ever worked in the country music business in the early days. It took until hour 8 1/2 before Tammy was mentioned.

It thought it was odd that the book ended with the birth of George and his early life instead of beginning the book with this information.

[Alex Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Season 2 of the Cocaine and Rhinestones podcast is one of the best historical pieces on music from the last decade. Of course the print adaptation was going to be good. But don't treat this as an eye-for-an-eye substitute for hearing the original audio version of this story - because even if this book hadn't been forced to trim itself down a bit for narrative/size purposes, there is no substitute for the aural storytelling of the original.

[JW Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched, painstakingly written, and focused on details, this book is dense and challenging but manageable and enjoyable. Chapters that seem to go off on tangents are meticulously woven back into the narrative. Not only do you learn about the specific lives of Jones and Wynette, you pick up interesting facts about a number of historical events and topics. An excellent read and supplement to the tremendous podcast.

[Sam Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coe does a fantastic job not only of telling the story of one music's most public an dysfunctional relationships, but also pulling the curtain back on Jones and Wynette as people, warts (and there were many) and all. Coe's style of storytelling, interspersing seemingly unrelated stories that in actuality outlined the narrative theme of the book, I found to be interesting and made for an engaging read.

[Jay Dougherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the parts that were about Tammy Wynette and George Jones. They were full of robust research and interesting opinions. There are a number of chapters, however, that are historical digressions with threadbare connections to the preceding chapters. There were too many of these for my liking, so I can only rate this a three.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book but I only read the chapters about George and Tammy and skipped the ones about bullfighting and the other nonsense. Maybe the author thought he would Robert Caro these threads together, but who has time for that?

[Patricia Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a long book started out about moonshine making and there is alot of information but i got bored with it i though it was all about george and tammy only not sure after the first 5 chapters because i lost my will to continue reading it