
CNN Blunders Dolly Parton Tribute By Airing Photo Of Las Vegas Impersonator
The cable news network issued a direct apology to the late icon's family after an embarrassing graphic mix-up on live TV.
By Nina BrooksPublished Updated 1 min read
CNN is facing serious embarrassment after making an unbelievable broadcast error during their coverage honoring the late country music icon Dolly Parton. Rather than flashing an official image of the legendary singer, the network mistakenly displayed a photograph of a professional impersonator during a live tribute segment. Following the news that the country legend passed away at the age of 80 on Tuesday, major news outlets immediately flooded the airwaves with retrospectives celebrating her extraordinary life and career. However, CNN’s late-night broadcast suffered an awkward mishap while remembering the star.
What happened during the CNN Dolly Parton broadcast?
Watch
Clips tied to this story.
During Tuesday night's edition of *Laura Coates Live*, the program attempted to pay homage to the beloved superstar. Unfortunately, the production team accidentally selected a picture of Las Vegas celebrity tribute performer Kelly Vohnn instead of Parton herself. The visual error did not go unnoticed, as eagle-eyed fans instantly spotted that the woman on screen was actually a Vegas performer rather than the historic artist being remembered. The blunder quickly turned an otherwise touching television tribute into a major media misstep.

Who is the Dolly Parton impersonator shown on CNN?
The image used in the broadcast featured Kelly Vohnn, an entertainer who makes her living impersonating high-profile celebrities in Las Vegas. While Vohnn has built a career channeling Parton's signature look, airing her image in place of the late singer during coverage of her passing sparked immediate confusion among viewers. In the wake of the embarrassing slip-up, the cable news network stepped up to take responsibility for the error. Reports indicate that CNN officially reached out to Parton’s family members to deliver a direct apology for the misidentification. The network expressed genuine regret over the television graphic mistake during a deeply sensitive time for the country singer's loved ones. While live broadcasts are notoriously fast-paced, fans expect major news channels to get the basics right—especially when paying tribute to one of the most famous figures in music history.
The photos · 5
More like this

TV & Film
Suriya Unleashes Chaos in Action-Packed Trailer for Upcoming Feature 'Scene'
The action star plays an unruly rogue investigator tracking down an arch-rival in Jithu Madhavan's latest entertainer.
14h ago

TV & Film
Why Fans Are Still Obsessed With Secrets From Disney's Hocus Pocus
Decades after Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy cast their spell, the witchy Disney favorite keeps surprising viewers.
20h ago

TV & Film
Alden Ehrenreich Admits His Finished Movies Are 'Dead' to Him
The 'Solo' and 'Oppenheimer' star explains why he cuts emotional ties with his projects as soon as they hit screens.
13h ago
Get the pop news brief
One daily email. The biggest celebrity, music and TV stories, no filler.
People also ask
- Why did CNN apologize to Dolly Parton's family?
- CNN issued an apology after mistakenly showing a photo of a Las Vegas impersonator instead of Dolly Parton during a broadcast tribute on Laura Coates Live.
- Who was the impersonator shown in the CNN Dolly Parton segment?
- The network mistakenly displayed an image of Kelly Vohnn, a professional Las Vegas celebrity tribute performer who impersonates Dolly Parton.
- dolly parton
- kelly vohnn
- laura coates
- cnn
Reader reaction
No comments yet — be the first to weigh in.