WATCH: CNN Forced to Apologize After Using Photo of Las Vegas Impersonator While Reporting Dolly Parton’s Death

CNN has apologized to the family of Dolly Parton after airing a photograph of a Las Vegas impersonator instead of the country music legend during its coverage of her death.

Parton, 80, died Tuesday at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer.

The American legend’s nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, announced the news in a video on behalf of the Parton and Owens families.

On Tuesday night’s episode of Laura Coates Live, CNN included a Getty Images photo of 58-year-old Kelly Vohnn, a well-known Dolly Parton impersonator, in a montage that was supposed to honor the singer.

WATCH:

🚨 UPDATE: CNN was just forced to APOLOGIZE for using the wrong image of Dolly Parton after she passed away at 80 — NYP

CNN displayed this photo of a Dolly Parton impersonator, named Kelly Vohnn

“We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family.”

It’s always CNN. pic.twitter.com/KFGxlYhcI5

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 27, 2026

Vohnn told the New York Post that friends immediately began texting her that she was on CNN.

“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. But then to see these images of me on screen was just weird.”

“Somebody at CNN really messed up and didn’t do their research,” she continued. “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. To be clear, I have never represented myself as being Dolly ever in my life. I have always been known as a tribute act for her and many other stars.”

When confronted about the mix-up, CNN issued a brief statement to the Post saying, “We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family.”

BREAKING: American Legend Dolly Parton Has Passed Away at 80 (VIDEO)

Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in a one-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains of Pittman Center, Tennessee. She was the fourth of twelve children in a poor farming family. She began performing as a child, singing on local radio and television, and moved to Nashville the day after high school graduation to pursue a music career.

In the 1970s Parton became one of country music’s biggest stars with hits such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.”

She crossed over into acting with roles in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Steel Magnolias.

Over her career, she has released dozens of albums, sold more than 100 million records, and earned numerous awards, including multiple Grammys and inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Beyond music and acting, Parton is known for her extensive philanthropy, most notably the Imagination Library, which has distributed millions of free books to children.

Parton also built a successful business empire, including the Dollywood theme park.