What To Know
- CNN mistakenly aired a photo of a Dolly Parton impersonator instead of the late country music legend during coverage of Parton’s death.
- The network publicly apologized to Parton’s family for the error.
- Vohnn clarified she has never claimed to be Parton.
As the world grieves the passing of country music legend Dolly Parton, whose death after a brief battle with cancer shocked the nation on Tuesday, August 25, CNN is issuing an apology to the Parton family after an on-air blunder during its coverage of the beloved artist’s death.
CNN apologized to Parton’s family after mistakenly using a photo of a Las Vegas impersonator during its coverage. Instead of showing the iconic songstress, the cable news network aired an image of Dolly Parton tribute artist Kelly Vohnn. The image of Vohnn was broadcast during CNN’s Laura Coates Live just hours after Parton’s death was announced by her family.
CNN has since acknowledged that the wrong image was used and apologized directly to Parton’s family for the mistake. “We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,” CNN told The New York Post in a statement on Thursday, August 27.
@thewashingtonexaminerCable news network CNN aired a photo of someone who was not legendary music star Dolly Parton during its coverage of her death, and was forced to apologize to her family afterward. The network aired an image of a 58-year-old tribute artist instead of Parton. In the photo, Parton impersonator Kelly Vohnn is seen in true Parton fashion, donned up in all the glitz and glamour fit for the star, wearing a white dress with shoulder pads covered in rhinestones, and sporting a small rhinestone waist belt. #CNN #DollyParton #CNNNews #EntertainmentNews♬ original sound – TheWashingtonExaminer
The mistake didn’t go unnoticed by Vohnn, who quickly began hearing from acquaintances who had spotted her photo. According to Vohnn, the photo was taken early this year when she appeared on the red carpet at a Las Vegas screening of Song Sung Blue.
The longtime Parton tribute artist based in Sin City suddenly found herself appearing on national television. “I started getting all these texts in from friends saying that I was on CNN, and I couldn’t believe it,” Vohnn told The Post on Thursday.
Vohnn clarified that she never presented herself as Dolly Parton. “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,” said the performer. “It was quite embarrassing, to be honest,” Vohnn said of the mistake.
The error came amid the widespread coverage of Parton’s death, as fans, fellow entertainers, and public figures paid tribute to the country music icon and her decades-long career.
“Somebody at CNN really messed up and didn’t do their research,” Vohnn told the publication.