CNN forced to apologise to Dolly Parton’s family for using wrong photo after death
Earlier this week, it was announced that Dolly Parton had passed away aged 80 after a brief battle with an undisclosed form of cancer.
The country music legend died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday (25 August), according to a statement from her representative.
A private service for immediate family is expected to take place in the coming days, with fans encouraged to pay tribute to the singer online and through her website.
But amid the tributes, CNN found itself having to issue an apology after accidentally showing a photo of a Dolly Parton impersonator while reporting on the star’s death.
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The network used an image of Las Vegas tribute artist Kelly Vohnn during coverage on Laura Coates Live on Tuesday.
CNN later apologised to Parton’s family in a statement to The New York Post.
"We regret the error and apologise to the Parton family," the network said on Thursday (27 August).
Vohnn said she was stunned when friends began messaging her about the broadcast.
"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. "I was already heartbroken at losing Dolly because of how much she has given to me as a woman and an artist."
She added: "But then to see these images of me on screen was just weird."
The photo was taken in December 2025, when Vohnn attended a Las Vegas screening of Song Sung Blue.
While she is known for performing as a tribute act, Vohnn made it clear she has never claimed to actually be Parton.
Vohnn said she has 'never represented' herself as being Parton in her life, but that she has 'always been known as a tribute act for her' and other stars.
She admitted she considered contacting CNN, but had other things on her mind.
"I thought about calling CNN, but was really consumed by the grief of losing Dolly [and] I just wanted to be at home with my thoughts, raising a glass of wine to that brilliant woman," she explained.
Parton’s family has asked heartbroken fans to honour her in their own way, with donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library requested in lieu of flowers.
Her representative described her as a 'Global icon and humanitarian' and said she would 'forever stand as an inspiration'.
Topics: Celebrity, Music, US News, TV And Film
Rhiannon Ingle