CNN issued an apology after mistakenly airing a photo of a Dolly Parton impersonator during a broadcast about the death of the American music icon. Dolly Parton passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80, following a short illness with cancer. Her passing has prompted millions to remember and honor her legacy in country music.
On “Laura Coates Live,” CNN aired a series of photos during a live report from Nashville by correspondent Shimon Prokupecz. Among these images was a picture of Kelly Vohnn, a tribute artist, at a prior event. Vohnn had attended a screening for “Song Sung Blue,” a film featuring a Neil Diamond tribute band.
“We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,” a CNN representative stated.
Vohnn expressed surprise regarding the situation in an interview with the New York Post. She noted that she received numerous texts informing her that her image had been shown on CNN. Vohnn described the event as “weird” and felt apologetic for the confusion regarding Parton’s tribute. “It was quite embarrassing, to be honest,” she said.
The media error drew attention to the importance of accuracy during sensitive coverage, especially when celebrating the life and legacy of influential figures.
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