Network aired a photo of 58-year-old Dolly Parton tribute artist Kelly Vohnn during its coverage of the country star’s death
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CNN has apologized after it mistakenly aired a photo of a Dolly Parton impersonator during a segment about the country icon’s death.
Around 11 hours after Parton’s death at 80 was announced by her family, the cable network displayed a photo of Kelly Vohnn, a Las Vegas-based tribute artist, instead of the singer herself, during Laura Coates Live.
“We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,” CNN told The New York Post, which first reported the mix-up, in a brief Thursday statement.
In an interview with the Post, 58-year-old Vohnn said the photo CNN used of her was taken in December on the red carpet for a Las Vegas screening of the musical Song Sung Blue, starring Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman.
“I started getting all these texts in from friends saying that I was on CNN, and I couldn’t believe it,” she told the publication.
“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,” Vohnn, who has portrayed Parton throughout her career, added.
“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.”
The Independent has contacted CNN and Parton’s representatives for additional comment.
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The photo of Vohnn appeared among a montage of images of the real Dolly Parton while Coates spoke to CNN correspondent Shimon Prokupecz, who was reporting live from Nashville.
The “9 to 5” singer died Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer,” her team said.
Her family have said she will have a small private funeral with no confirmed plans for a public memorial.
