CNN Apologizes After Dolly Parton Tribute Mistakenly Shows Impersonator Kelly Vohnn

CNN has apologized to Dolly Parton’s family after an image used during the network’s coverage of the country music legend’s death turned out not to be Parton at all.

The photograph was actually of Kelly Vohnn, a Canadian-born tribute performer who has portrayed Parton professionally. The mistake occurred during CNN’s primetime coverage on Tuesday, August 25, as the network and media outlets around the world reported on Parton’s death at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer.

For Vohnn, the first indication that something unusual had happened came when messages from friends suddenly began arriving on her phone.

A tribute montage contained the wrong Dolly

The error appeared during Tuesday’s edition of Laura Coates Live.

As CNN correspondent Shimon Prokupecz reported from Nashville, viewers were shown a montage of photographs celebrating Parton’s life and career. Among the genuine images of the country icon was a picture of Vohnn.

The photograph had been taken when Vohnn attended a screening of Song Sung Blue, the Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson film inspired by the real-life Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning & Thunder.

Vohnn bears a striking resemblance to Parton when performing as the singer, but she later stressed that she has never pretended to actually be her.

CNN subsequently acknowledged the mistake. On the August 27 edition of Laura Coates Live, Coates directly addressed the error, explaining that the network had mistakenly aired one image of a Parton impersonator during its coverage and apologizing to the Parton family.

Kelly Vohnn couldn’t believe what friends were telling her

Vohnn told the New York Post that she learned about the mix-up when friends began texting to say they had just seen her on CNN.

The experience, she said, felt “weird.”

Her reaction was not one of excitement at appearing on national television. Instead, she said she felt sorry about the situation because the image had been used during coverage of Parton’s death.

Vohnn also questioned how the photograph had made it onto the broadcast without being properly identified, saying she believed CNN had selected something inappropriate for such a sensitive moment.

According to the Post, the image created confusion among some viewers who assumed they were looking at Parton herself. Vohnn said she briefly considered contacting CNN before deciding against it and focusing instead on grieving the woman who had influenced so much of her professional life.

Vohnn has spent years paying tribute to Parton

The mistake carried an added emotional dimension because Parton was far more than simply a celebrity whom Vohnn happened to resemble.

Vohnn has spent years working as a tribute artist, including performances in Las Vegas. Her career has also included portraying another country music superstar, Reba McEntire.

Parton, however, remained an enormous personal and professional influence.

Vohnn made clear that she never represented herself as the real singer. Her work was intended as a tribute to an artist she deeply admired, making the timing of CNN’s mistake particularly uncomfortable for her.

CNN corrects the mistake as tributes continue worldwide

CNN’s apology came amid days of extensive coverage celebrating Parton’s extraordinary career and legacy.

Parton died Tuesday at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. The Tennessee-born singer rose from poverty in the Smoky Mountains to become one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world, selling more than 100 million records and creating classics including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.”

Her influence extended well beyond music. Parton built a successful film career, created Dollywood and established the Imagination Library, her literacy initiative that has distributed hundreds of millions of books to children.

Her death prompted tributes from fellow musicians, actors, politicians and millions of fans around the world. Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves and many others were among those remembering her influence and generosity.

CNN has continued covering those tributes while also publicly correcting its own mistake.

What was intended to be a visual celebration of one of country music’s most recognizable figures instead briefly featured a woman whose career was built around honoring her — an error that left Vohnn stunned and ultimately prompted CNN to apologize directly to the Parton family.