CNN apologises for backlash after airing Dolly Parton impersonator photo during tribute to late icon

CNN error happened during coverage as Vohnn said friends alerted her after seeing her image on TV that night

CNN has apologised to Dolly Parton’s family after the network mistakenly aired a photograph of a professional Parton impersonator during coverage of the country music legend’s death. The error occurred during Laura Coates Live on Tuesday evening, August 25, when CNN correspondent Shimon Prokupecz was reporting live from Nashville following news of Parton’s passing.

The image shown as part of a montage was not Parton. It featured Kelly Vohnn, a Las Vegas based tribute performer who has spent years portraying Parton. The photograph was taken on December 16, 2025, when Vohnn attended a screening of Song Sung Blue at Brenden Theatres inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

CNN acknowledged the mistake after the image was broadcast and issued an apology to the Parton family. In a statement, the network said, "We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family."

The mistake also left Vohnn stunned when friends began contacting her after recognising her on television. Speaking to the New York Post, she recalled receiving messages from friends telling her that she was appearing on CNN. Vohnn described the experience as strange and embarrassing, particularly because the broadcast came while the world was mourning Parton.

Vohnn also made clear that she has never attempted to present herself as the real Parton. She has worked openly as a tribute artist and has portrayed other performers during her career. Her comments came as the photograph spread in reports about the CNN error, bringing unexpected attention to a performer whose career has been built around celebrating Parton's distinctive image and musical legacy.

The timing of the mistake made the incident especially sensitive. Parton's death was announced on August 25, with her family saying that she had died peacefully at her Nashville home at the age of 80. Reuters reported that she had been battling cancer and that her career had lasted nearly six decades.

Parton became one of the most recognisable figures in country music, writing and recording thousands of songs while also building a major career in film and television. Her best known songs include "Jolene", "9 to 5", "Coat of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You". She also became widely recognised for her philanthropic work, including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and for founding Dollywood in Tennessee.

The CNN incident has since drawn attention to the importance of image verification during breaking news coverage, particularly when tribute artists closely recreate the appearance of famous performers. In this case, Vohnn's resemblance to Parton resulted in her photograph appearing among genuine images of the late singer during one of the network's most significant reports about her death.

For Vohnn, the unexpected television appearance arrived during a deeply emotional moment. She had admired Parton personally and professionally, making the mix up particularly uncomfortable as tributes continued to pour in for the country icon. CNN's apology has now formally acknowledged the mistake, while the incident remains an unusual footnote in the extensive worldwide coverage of Parton's death.