It has been claimed that mention of the "Gatlin boys ... there was three of them" in the song was a reference to The Gatlin Brothers. However, in The Billboard Book of Number One Country Singles, Rogers stated that he was unaware of the connection, and that he would have otherwise asked for the name to be changed. Larry Gatlin also gave the song a positive review ("It's a good song"). Writer Billy Edd Wheeler denied that the lyric was a reference to the Gatlin Brothers.
Larry Gatlin later claimed in an interview on The Adam Carolla Show that the song’s co-writer, Roger Bowling, had a personal grudge against him for reasons unknown. Gatlin then explained to Carolla that when Bowling won song of the year for "Lucille" during the 1977 CMA Awards, he (Gatlin) approached Bowling to congratulate him for winning. Gatlin told Carolla: "He said, 'fuck you, Gatlin!' I said, 'What?' He said, 'Fuck you!' I said, 'Let me tell you something, hoss. If we weren't in the Grand Ole' Opry House dressed up in tuxedos, I would just open a boot shop in your ass.'" Gatlin further stated that those particular exchange of words with Bowling resulted in Gatlin‘s inclusion in the lyrics to “Coward of the County.
