CNN has apologized to Dolly Parton’s household after mistakenly airing {a photograph} of Las Vegas tribute performer Kelly Vohnn whereas reporting on the nation music icon’s dying. The picture appeared throughout “Laura Coates Reside” roughly 12 hours after Parton’s household introduced that she had died at age 80. Vohnn mentioned she discovered in regards to the mistake when associates started flooding her cellphone with messages claiming they’d seen her on CNN.
Based on the New York Post, CNN used {a photograph} of Vohnn throughout its protection of Parton’s dying. The community later acknowledged the error in a brief assertion. “We remorse the error and apologize to the Parton household,” CNN informed the outlet.
Vohnn mentioned the {photograph} had been taken in December when she attended a Las Vegas screening of “Tune Sung Blue,” the musical drama starring Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman.
The 58-year-old performer was surprised to find that her red-carpet photograph had been introduced throughout protection of Parton’s passing. “I began getting all these texts in from associates saying that I used to be on CNN, and I couldn’t imagine it,” Vohnn mentioned.
“I used to be already heartbroken at dropping Dolly due to how a lot she has given to me as a girl and an artist,” she continued. “However then to see these pictures of me on display screen was simply bizarre.”
Kelly Vohnn Blasts CNN Over ‘Embarrassing’ Error
Vohnn, who has portrayed Parton all through her profession as a tribute performer, criticized CNN for failing to accurately establish the girl within the picture. “Someone at CNN actually tousled and didn’t do their analysis,” she mentioned.
The performer argued that the community had a long time of real Parton pictures and profession moments from which to decide on. “I felt so sorry and apologetic for Dolly, as a result of over her profession there are such a lot of fantastic pictures and moments that they may have chosen from, and CNN simply picked one thing not acceptable,” Vohnn mentioned.
The Parton impersonator additionally made it clear that she had by no means tried to persuade anybody that she was Parton. “To be clear, I’ve by no means represented myself as being Dolly ever in my life,” she defined. “I’ve all the time been often known as a tribute act for her and plenty of different stars. It was fairly embarrassing, to be sincere.”
Though Vohnn thought of reaching out to the community, she mentioned her grief following Parton’s dying took precedence. “I considered calling CNN, however was actually consumed by the grief of dropping Dolly [and] I simply needed to be at residence with my ideas, elevating a glass of wine to that good girl,” she defined.
Parton had performed a big function in Vohnn’s life and profession, although the 2 ladies weren’t personally linked in the best way the mistaken picture might have steered. “Dolly has been an actual power in my life, serving to me by way of the bottom and highest moments of my life,” Vohnn mentioned. “She actually modified the world for thus many individuals [and] for me personally.”
Kelly Vohnn Constructed A Profession As A Tribute Performer
Born and raised in Toronto, Vohnn started performing within the Keith Burton Tribute Present earlier than pursuing her personal profession in nation music. She recorded a debut album titled “A New Starting” and later returned to tribute work whereas elevating three youngsters. Vohnn ultimately relocated her household to Las Vegas, the place she developed her one-woman manufacturing, “Kelly Vohnn Divas.”
Her profession additionally included appearances in Las Vegas reveals corresponding to “Cowboy Cabaret” and “Cowboy Christmas.” Vohnn portrayed a number of celebrities whereas working as a “Dealertainer” on the Imperial Palace, combining on line casino coping with reside impersonation performances.
Parton was not her solely signature character. Vohnn additionally grew to become recognized for portraying Reba McEntire and received a Reba look-alike contest in New York Metropolis in November 2010.
Dolly Parton Died At Age 80
Parton’s household introduced that the singer died “peacefully” at age 80. A small, personal service will probably be held for shut members of the family, based on the household’s assertion.
Her publicist, Marcel Pariseau, later mentioned Parton died “after bravely going through a quick battle with most cancers.”
