CNN Apologises After Airing Photo of Dolly Parton Tribute Artist During Coverage of Singer's Death
CNN has apologised to Dolly Parton's family after broadcasting a photograph of a Las Vegas tribute artist instead of the singer herself during coverage of Parton's death.
The error occurred during 'Laura Coates Live' in the 11 p.m. ET hour on Tuesday, 25 August 2026 — the same day Parton died in Nashville at the age of 80, following what her representatives described as a "brief battle with cancer" (Variety). Her family announced the death (Fox Carolina).
The image CNN displayed was a Getty Images photograph of Kelly Vohnn, a Las Vegas performer who portrays Parton. The photo had been taken on 16 December 2025 at Brenden Theatres inside the Palms Casino Resort, where Vohnn attended a screening of the film 'Song Sung Blue' (Variety).
CNN said in a statement to Variety: "We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family" (Variety). The New York Post first reported the apology (New York Post).
Vohnn told the Post she discovered the mix-up when friends began texting her that she was on CNN. She said she was already heartbroken over Parton's death when the messages started arriving (New York Post).
Parton's death prompted an outpouring of tributes across the music world. Taylor Swift said "a world without Dolly doesn't feel possible" (WOWT). Mourners gathered at Dollywood, Parton's theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on 26 August to pay their respects (Reuters). Parton had also pre-recorded a song intended for release after her death, according to her representatives (WWNY).
The on-air error landed at a moment of raw public grief for one of country music's most beloved figures. For a newsroom, confusing a tribute artist with the person being mourned is the kind of mistake that draws immediate attention — and CNN moved quickly to acknowledge it publicly.
