Full Breakdown
CNN Uses Impersonator Photo in Dolly Parton Death Coverage, Issues Apology
8/27/2026, 11:45:49 PM
Core Event: Misidentified Photo During Tribute Broadcast
On Tuesday, August 25, CNN’s “Laura Coates Live” aired a montage honoring Dolly Parton after the singer’s death at age 80. The segment mistakenly included a photograph of Kelly Vohnn, a 58-year-old Las Vegas performer who has built a career portraying Parton, instead of an image of the icon herself. The image was taken at a December red-carpet screening of the film *Song Sung Blue* in Las Vegas.
Background & Context: Parton’s Death and Media Coverage
Dolly Parton’s family announced her passing on Tuesday, August 25, after a brief battle with cancer at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. The news prompted extensive coverage across television, print and online outlets, with many networks running tribute segments featuring archival photos and commentary from family members and fellow artists. CNN’s broadcast occurred roughly 12 hours after the family’s announcement.
Official Statements & Responses
The network’s apology was limited to acknowledging the mistaken use of the impersonator’s photograph and expressing regret for the oversight.
Criticism & Opposition
Kelly Vohnn, the impersonator whose image was aired, described the incident as “embarrassing” and criticized CNN for failing to verify the photograph. She emphasized that she has never claimed to be Dolly Parton and that the mistake was “quite embarrassing, to be honest.” Vohnn also noted that she considered contacting CNN but chose not to, citing her grief over Parton’s death.
Data & Statistics
- Dolly Parton: age 80 at death; died August 25.
- Kelly Vohnn: age 58; longtime tribute artist who has performed as Parton in Las Vegas.
- CNN broadcast: aired on “Laura Coates Live” approximately 12 hours after the family’s announcement.
Timeline
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was quite embarrassing, to be honest,” — Kelly Vohnn
- “Dolly has been a real force in my life, helping me through the lowest and highest moments of my life,” — Kelly Vohnn
- “We just lost a really really really amazing human, one of the most amazing humans on the planet,” — Kelly Vohnn
- “Um, and it’s going to be, uh, it’s going to be hard for a little while to do her. It’s going to be very difficult. But, I’m honored to do it,” — Kelly Vohnn
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sourced outlets agree that CNN used a photo of Kelly Vohnn instead of Dolly Parton and that the network issued an apology on August 27. No source provides detail on how the erroneous image entered the broadcast package, leaving the internal verification process unclear.
What’s Next
No future actions or scheduled follow-up statements from CNN or the Parton family were reported in the available sources.
