CNN apologises after airing photo of Dolly Parton impersonator during report on singer’s death

CNN has apologised to Dolly Parton’s family after mistakenly showing a photograph of tribute performer Kelly Vohnn during its coverage of the country music legend’s death.

Parton died Tuesday at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer. News of her passing prompted tributes from millions of fans and public figures around the world.

Impersonator’s photograph included in CNN montage

The error occurred during Tuesday’s edition of Laura Coates Live, while correspondent Shimon Prokupecz was reporting from Nashville.

As a montage of Parton photographs appeared on screen, CNN included an image of Vohnn attending a 2025 screening of Song Sung Blue.

The film, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, tells the story of the real-life Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning & Thunder.

Following the broadcast, CNN acknowledged the mistake.

“We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,” a network spokesperson said.

Kelly Vohnn reacts to the mistake

Vohnn, a Canadian-born Dolly Parton tribute artist, said she discovered what had happened when friends began sending her messages.

“I started getting all these texts in from friends saying that I was on CNN, and I couldn’t believe it,” she told the New York Post.

Describing the experience as “weird,” Vohnn said she felt sorry that the inappropriate photograph had appeared during coverage of Parton’s death.

“I felt so sorry and apologetic for Dolly,” she said. “It was quite embarrassing, to be honest.”