Dolly Parton shares condolences for the passing of Patrick Gottsch

Patrick Gottsch, the Founder and President of Rural Media Group, passed away over the weekend at the age of 70. He was a champion of Rural America, devoting more than half his life to empowering farmers and ranchers, giving them a voice at the table. We are grateful for his leadership and innovation.

There has been an outpour of love, support, and condolences from friends, industry partners, western sports figures, and country music stars.
Recently, the Queen of Country Music and Tennessee, Dolly Parton, shared a message with us.

She stated:

“There are those people that will live on forever, and Patrick is definitely one of those people. Patrick changed the course of many people’s lives by providing all the wonderful entertainment that everybody could enjoy— especially rural people, as I am!”

Dolly Parton

Related Stories

ABOUT RFD NETWORK

Cheyenne Frontier Days CEO on Hall of Fame Induction: “Patrick Gottsch holds a special place in our hearts”

Today in Wyoming, Rural Media Group’s late founder, Patrick Gottsch, will be inducted into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame! The rodeo’s CEO, Tom Hirsing, joined us to share why Patrick is so deserving of this honor.

September 05, 2025 11:10 AM

RFD NEWS STAFF

Music

Dolly Parton shares how her roots shaped her into who she is today, ahead of her Broadway Musical

August 11, 2025 02:31 PM

Currey McCullough

National FFA Organization

WATCH: The Gottsch family and the National FFA have a deep relationship

February 20, 2025 08:18 PM

RFD NEWS STAFF

Music

From Rags to Rhinestones: Dolly Parton discusses her Original Musical

January 28, 2025 02:02 PM

Currey McCullough

Feel Good Stories

Rural Media Group’s Patrick Gottsch receives place on the historic Texas Trail of Fame Memorial

October 28, 2024 11:23 AM

RFD NEWS STAFF

National FFA Organization

National FFA Honors the Late Patrick Gottsch with the Blue and Gold Award

October 25, 2024 10:30 AM

RFD NEWS STAFF

News

Unmatched Dedication: Rep. GT Thompson paid tribute to our late founder, Patrick Gottsch on House Floor

July 25, 2024 02:54 PM

News

The 2024 Ag PhD Field Day pays tribute to Rural Media Group Founder Patrick Gottsch in their Memorial Garden

July 25, 2024 11:42 AM

RFD NEWS STAFF

Washington Policy

Senator Pete Ricketts pays tribute to RMG founder Patrick Gottsch on the Senate floor

June 13, 2024 12:06 PM

Remembering Patrick Gottsch

RFD NEWS STAFF

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Equine

EHV Outbreak Could Have ‘Fairly Substantial’ Impact on Equine Industry Without Heightened Biosecurity

Dr. Sally DeNotta with the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) provides horse owners with guidance on the recent outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV).

December 04, 2025 12:22 PM

Marion Kirkpatrick

Feel Good Stories

Meet Rooster, Georgia Farm Bureau’s 2025 Farm Dog of the Year

Rooster is a full-time farmhand, right-hand man on Shawn Raff’s cattle and dairy operation in Eatonton, Georgia.

December 04, 2025 11:48 AM

RFD NEWS STAFF

U.S. Farm Bill

Pork Producers Reignite Push for ‘Skinny’ Farm Bill, Federal Fix for Prop-12

While the 2018 Farm Bill received an extension under the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” Act, the National Pork Producers Council wants lawmakers to do more to support the sector.

December 04, 2025 11:27 AM

RFD NEWS STAFF

Machinery

New AEM Campaign Celebrates ‘The Makers’ Powering the Agriculture Sector

Kip Eideberg with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers details its campaign spotlighting the people who build equipment vital to farming and food manufacturing.

December 03, 2025 03:24 PM

RFD NEWS STAFF

Dirt Diaries: The FarmHER + RanchHER Podcast

Kansas RanchHER Brandi Buzzard Helps Farmers and Consumers Find Common Ground

Buzzard discusses her upcoming appearance on the Dirt Diaries podcast with host Kirbe Schnoor and the importance of sharing authentic stories about agriculture.

December 03, 2025 03:10 PM

Marion Kirkpatrick

Rural Health Matters

Rural Health Matters: Managing Chronic Conditions Remotely with Telemedicine

Dr. Jeffrey Gold, President of the University of Nebraska, joined us to break down what telehealth entails and which conditions can be managed through remote appointments.

December 03, 2025 02:17 PM

Marion Kirkpatrick

Queen of Country Music, Dolly Parton shares her condolences for the passing of our founder Patrick Gottsch

“There are those people that will live on forever, and Patrick is definitely one of those,” Ms. Parton said about the passing of RMG Founder and President Patrick Gottsch.