CNN apologizes for mistaking Dolly Parton Vegas impersonator for late icon

This story originally appeared on Out.CNN has apologized to Dolly Parton's family for a sloppy and embarrassing mistake: using a photo of a living Las Vegas impersonator in its marathon coverage of the country music legend's death. “We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,” said a CNN spokesperson in a statement. It happened some 12 hours after the stunning announcement that Parton had died Tuesday, during the 11 p.m. EDT Laura Coates Live newscast, as the New York Post first reported. Someone at the cable news network included a file image of celebrity impersonator Kelly Vohnn from last year as part of a montage that featured five archival photos of the actual Dolly Parton.The picture of Vohnn appeared in what TV news people call a "triple box" alongside Coates and CNN correspondent Shimon Prokupecz, who was reporting live from Nashville about how fans were in mourning. Laura Coates and Shimon Prokupecz appear on CNN with a file photo of Dolly Parton impersonator Kelly Vohnn on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. www.out.com As Variety reported, the error was traced to an unnamed CNN employee who downloaded a Getty Images photo of Vohnn that was taken in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2025. Vohnn was attending a screening of the Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman movie, Song Sung Blue, at Brenden Theatres inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.Vohnn, 58, is a Toronto native and mother of 3, who has also performed as Patsy Cline, Shania Twain, Reba McEntire and Madonna.“I started getting all these texts in from friends saying that I was on CNN, and I couldn’t believe it,” Vohnn said in an interview with the Post. “I was already heartbroken at losing Dolly because of how much she has given to me as a woman and an artist." Vohnn posted a video on Instagram to denounce the error, showing that screenshot from CNN, and make it clear it wasn't her doing. "I would never fool people that way. I am an impersonator," she said.Vohnn told the British tabloid The Mirror hav