CNN has been forced to apologise to Dolly Parton’s family after accidentally using a photograph of a Las Vegas impersonator while reporting on the country music legend’s death.
Parton died on Tuesday aged 80 following what her representatives described as a ‘brief battle with cancer,’ prompting an enormous outpouring of tributes from around the world.
However, during Tuesday evening’s edition of Laura Coates Live, CNN made a rather awkward blunder while covering the breaking news. Instead of showing the Jolene singer, the network displayed a photograph of professional Dolly impersonator Kelly Vohnn, seemingly believing the image was actually Parton.
Considering Dolly was one of the most instantly recognisable women on the planet, it was quite the mix-up.
CNN has since acknowledged the error and issued an apology to the late musician’s loved ones. ‘We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,’ a spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly.
Vohnn has now spoken out herself, stressing that she had absolutely nothing to do with the mistake and has never attempted to convince people she is the real Parton.
‘I’m relieved that CNN has reached out to Dolly’s family and apologized for their mishap,’ she told the publication. ‘We all loved Dolly dearly and wouldn’t want these mistakes to continue moving forward.’
The Las Vegas performer also posted a video to Instagram after discovering her photograph was being circulated in coverage of Parton’s death.
Dolly Parton: 1946 – 2026
Dolly Parton, an icon of music, film, philanthropy, wisecracks and rhinestones, has died at the age of 80.
The Queen of Country Music’s death was announced on Tuesday August 25, prompting an outpouring of grief across the world.
Follow Metro’s coverage of the death of Dolly Parton:
- Dolly Parton’s cause of death confirmed, after the star recently revealed she had been unwell
- Miley Cyrus writes heartfelt message to her godmother ‘Aunt Dolly’
- Heartbroken celebrities including Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Sir Elton John pay tribute to the ‘unique and irreplaceable’ music legend
- Dolly Parton’s funeral details revealed and the song she wanted to be played
- Remembering Dolly Parton’s unlikely love for Rotherham
- The devastating moment 9 to 5 The Musical audience told Dolly Parton has died
- Inside Dolly Parton’s private and ‘wonderful’ marriage of nearly 60 years to Carl Dean
- Celebrate Dolly’s career with these seven movies
‘I am a Dolly Parton impersonator. The last few days have been devastating to myself and to millions of people around the world,’ she began.
Vohnn said it had been brought to her attention that news outlets were once again using her likeness while identifying her as Parton, insisting she had never given anyone permission to do so.
‘I would never fool people that way. I am an impersonator. People know that they’re buying tickets to an impersonator. And I would never say that I’m Dolly Parton,’ she explained.
Rather remarkably, this isn’t even the first time Vohnn has found herself mistaken for the woman she impersonates professionally.
She claimed the same photograph was previously used in a story about Parton cancelling a second run of Las Vegas residency dates in May. Vohnn stressed that while she doesn’t own the photographs in question, she had never authorised anyone to use them while claiming they showed Parton.
‘I would never disrespect Dolly, her family, or her loved ones this way. So please know that I am in no way a part of this,’ she added.
Vohnn has worked professionally as a Parton tribute act, recreating the star’s instantly recognisable blonde hair and glamorous style.
Following Parton’s death, she said she hopes to continue celebrating the musician and intends to act as an ‘ambassador’ for her legacy, including the kindness and charitable work that became such a significant part of the star’s life.
She had previously posted an emotional tribute after learning of Parton’s death, telling followers: ‘We just lost an extraordinary human being. One of the most extraordinary human beings of my lifetime. It’s a sad day,’ she continued, before thanking those who had reached out to her following the news.
Parton’s death at 80 brought an end to one of the most extraordinary careers in entertainment, spanning more than six decades.
After growing up in poverty in rural Tennessee, she became a country music superstar with hits including Jolene, I Will Always Love You and 9 to 5, while also establishing herself as an actress, businesswoman and philanthropist.
Her representatives confirmed she died following a brief battle with cancer after concerns surrounding her health had grown in recent months.
Some of the biggest names in entertainment have since paid tribute, including her 9 to 5 co-stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus.
Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Sabrina Carpenter and Linda Ronstadt were also among those remembering Parton and her enormous influence.
For Vohnn, whose career has been partly devoted to celebrating Parton, being unexpectedly thrust into coverage of her idol’s death has understandably been uncomfortable.
Still, there is something undeniably Dolly about the ridiculousness of the whole thing.
Parton herself famously never took her carefully constructed image too seriously, once recalling that she entered a Dolly Parton lookalike contest – and lost.
So while her family are the only people who can say how they feel about CNN’s mistake, it’s not difficult to imagine Dolly getting at least a little amusement from the fact that, even in death, apparently nobody could quite keep up with all the Dollys.