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 celebrating the American star’s legacy. For this blunder, CNN released a brief statement to The Post on Thursday.
“We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,” the statement said. Parton’s report on the news channel was aired 12 hours after the 9 to 5 actress’ death was announced. The news of this error reached Vonn, who called it “quite embarrassing.”
Dolly Parton impersonator reacts after CNN airs her photoKelly Vohnn’s photograph, which was aired during the tribute montage, was taken last December during the Las Vegas red carpet screening of Song Sung Blue, starring Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman. Vohnn got the news after her friends texted her, saying that she was on CNN.
I started getting all these texts from friends saying that I was on CNN, and I couldn’t believe it,” the impersonator told The Post. “I was already heartbroken at losing Dolly because of how much she has given to me as a woman and an artist. But then to see these images of me on screen was just weird.”
Vohnn is known for being a longtime singer and tribute performer who portrayed Dolly Parton throughout her career. She added, “To be clear, I have never represented myself as being Dolly ever in my life. I have always been known as a tribute act for her and many other stars. It was quite embarrassing, to be honest.”
The tribute performer also stated that she felt sorry for Parton because of the CNN snafu, since there were so many “wonderful images and moments” in her career that the reporting channel could have used. “Somebody at CNN really messed up and didn’t do their research,” she added.
In her closing statement, the impersonator added that she was going to contact the broadcasting channel and confront them. However, she was “consumed by the grief” of losing her idol and wanted to “raise a glass of wine to the brilliant woman.”
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