CNN Apologizes to Dolly Parton’s Family After Using Photo of Vegas Impersonator During Death Coverage
CNN said it regretted the mix-up after airing a photo of Las Vegas performer Kelly Vohnn during a tribute to Dolly Parton.
- On Tuesday evening, CNN mistakenly aired a photo of 58-year-old tribute artist Kelly Vohnn instead of legendary singer Dolly Parton during the 11 p.m. ET hour of 'Laura Coates Live' while covering Parton's death.
- Parton died Tuesday, August 25, at age 80 after a 'brief battle with cancer,' prompting the network to air a tribute segment where the error occurred just over six minutes into the broadcast.
- The incorrect image was taken December 16, 2025, in Las Vegas, where Vohnn attended a screening of the film 'Song Sung Blue' at Brenden Theatres inside Palms Casino Resort, according to the photo agency.
- Vohnn told The New York Post on Thursday that the snafu was 'quite embarrassing,' emphasizing she has 'never represented' herself as Parton in her life.
- CNN issued a formal apology to the Parton family on Thursday, stating 'We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,' as the network continues honoring her seven-decade career.
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20 Articles
CNN Makes ‘Embarrassing’ Dolly Parton Blunder During Coverage Of Her Death
AdMedia / MEGAAdMedia / MEGA CNN has apologized to Dolly Parton’s family after mistakenly airing a photograph of Las Vegas tribute performer Kelly Vohnn while reporting on the country music icon’s death. The image appeared during “Laura Coates Live” approximately 12 hours after Parton’s family announced that she had died at age 80. Vohnn said she learned about the mistake when friends began flooding her phone with messages claiming they had seen…
Dolly Parton: CNN Apologizes for Including Impersonator in Tribute Montage
Photo Credits: Netflix CNN has apologized after including a Dolly Parton impersonator’s image in a tribute montage. The American icon passed away at age 80 on August 25, 2026. Upon her passing, many tributes poured in to honor her legacy. However, CNN made a mistake during its coverage of Parton’s death. On Tuesday night during the Laura Coates Live broadcast, CNN accidentally included an image of Las Vegas impersonator Kelly Vohnn in a montage …
CNN Apologizes To Dolly Parton’s Family After Embarrassing On-Air Mix-Up
CNN was supposed to be honoring Dolly Parton. Instead, the network put a picture of a Las Vegas impersonator on the screen. Now CNN has apologized to Parton’s family for the mistake during its coverage of the country music legend’s death. The woman in the photograph was tribute performer Kelly Vohnn. She was grieving Parton herself when friends started telling her she had appeared on national television. Watch the moment from CNN’s broadcast: U…
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