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

Coe is the creator of the country music history podcast Cocaine & Rhinestones, and this book often reads like his show, filled with musings. It’s less a dual biography of George Jones and Tammy Wynette than it is a subjective discourse on country music. Incongruous chapters discuss the genre in terms of moonshine, bullfighting, soap operas, pinball, with medieval jousting and head-scratching stretches thrown in. However, when the narrative finally focuses on Jones and Wynette (after more than 100 pages), the book takes off (also thanks to White’s illustrations), offering a revealing account of Wynette’s life and giving Jones the recognition he reportedly thought he deserved. The book shows how Jones experienced extreme stage fright and a substance-use disorder, sometimes resulting in concerts where he was unable to perform; meanwhile, Wynette grew up believing that Jones was the greatest country singer of all time. When they married, they were dubbed the King and Queen of Country Music, but sadly, it was no fairy tale.