CNN Issues Apology After Airing Image of Dolly Parton Impersonator
CNN apologized to Dolly Parton's family for mistakenly showing a photo of a tribute performer during a report on the singer's death.
CNN said it had aired an incorrect photograph during Tuesday night’s edition of "Laura Coates Live" while covering the death of Dolly Parton. The image was of Kelly Vohnn, a Las Vegas entertainer known for portraying Parton, rather than the singer herself. In a statement to Variety, the network said, "We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family." The picture, supplied by Getty Images, was taken on Dec. 16, 2025, at a screening of the film "Song Sung Blue" in Las Vegas. Vohnn told the New York Post that she received numerous messages after seeing the broadcast and expressed surprise at being featured on the network. Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, according to her representatives.