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 having CNN mistake her for the real Dolly Parton was "very weird" and she considered notifying CNN.

"I know it was a mistake but it was very weird. I started getting all these texts in from friends saying that I was on CNN, not Dolly. And to be clear I have never represented myself as Dolly in public," she said. “I thought about calling CNN, but was really consumed by the grief of losing Dolly that I just wanted to be at home with my thoughts, raising a glass of wine to that brilliant woman.”

Vohnn has portrayed Parton throughout her career, and told The Mirror that the very next night, she went back on stage at Henderson's Italian restaurant Prosecco, and the audience gave her a standing ovation for her Dolly performance.

“Dolly has been a real force in my life, helping me through the lowest and highest moments of my life,” Vohnn told the tabloid. “She really changed the world for so many people [and] for me personally.”

She is blasting CNN for the snafu.

“Somebody at CNN really messed up and didn’t do their research,” she told the Post. “It was quite embarrassing, to be honest."

Out reached out to Prokupecz as well as Laura Coates Live producer Brian Cox and executive producer Eric Hall for comment but did not hear back as of press time.

In her Instagram video, Vohnn told the media, “Do better due diligence.”