CNN has apologized to Dolly Parton’s family after mistakenly airing a photograph of Las Vegas tribute performer Kelly Vohnn while reporting on the country music icon’s death. The image appeared during “Laura Coates Live” approximately 12 hours after Parton’s family announced that she had died at age 80. Vohnn said she learned about the mistake when friends began flooding her phone with messages claiming they had seen her on CNN.
According to the New York Post, CNN used a photograph of Vohnn during its coverage of Parton’s death. The network later acknowledged the mistake in a short statement. “We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,” CNN told the outlet.
Vohnn said the photograph had been taken in December when she attended a Las Vegas screening of “Song Sung Blue,” the musical drama starring Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman.
The 58-year-old performer was stunned to discover that her red-carpet photo had been presented during coverage of Parton’s passing. “I started getting all these texts in from friends saying that I was on CNN, and I couldn’t believe it,” Vohnn said.
“I was already heartbroken at losing Dolly because of how much she has given to me as a woman and an artist,” she continued. “But then to see these images of me on screen was just weird.”
Kelly Vohnn Blasts CNN Over ‘Embarrassing’ Error
Vohnn, who has portrayed Parton throughout her career as a tribute performer, criticized CNN for failing to correctly identify the woman in the image. “Somebody at CNN really messed up and didn’t do their research,” she said.
The performer argued that the network had decades of genuine Parton photographs and career moments from which to choose. “I felt so sorry and apologetic for Dolly, because over her career there are so many wonderful images and moments that they could have chosen from, and CNN just picked something not appropriate,” Vohnn said.
The Parton impersonator also made it clear that she had never tried to convince anyone that she was Parton. “To be clear, I have never represented myself as being Dolly ever in my life,” she explained. “I have always been known as a tribute act for her and many other stars. It was quite embarrassing, to be honest.”
Although Vohnn considered reaching out to the network, she said her grief following Parton’s death took priority. “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 had played a significant role in Vohnn’s life and career, even though the two women were not personally connected in the way the mistaken image may have suggested. “Dolly has been a real force in my life, helping me through the lowest and highest moments of my life,” Vohnn said. “She really changed the world for so many people [and] for me personally.”
Kelly Vohnn Built A Career As A Tribute Performer
Born and raised in Toronto, Vohnn began performing in the Keith Burton Tribute Show before pursuing her own career in country music. She recorded a debut album titled “A New Beginning” and later returned to tribute work while raising three children. Vohnn eventually relocated her family to Las Vegas, where she developed her one-woman production, “Kelly Vohnn Divas.”
Her career also included appearances in Las Vegas shows such as “Cowboy Cabaret” and “Cowboy Christmas.” Vohnn portrayed multiple celebrities while working as a “Dealertainer” at the Imperial Palace, combining casino dealing with live impersonation performances.
Parton was not her only signature character. Vohnn also became known for portraying Reba McEntire and won a Reba look-alike contest in New York City in November 2010.
Dolly Parton Died At Age 80
Parton’s family announced that the singer died “peacefully” at age 80. A small, private service will be held for close family members, according to the family’s statement.
Her publicist, Marcel Pariseau, later said Parton died “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.”
