CNN apologised to Dolly Parton’s family after mistakenly using an image of tribute performer Kelly Vohnn during a report on the singer’s death. The error occurred in a photo montage on “Laura Coates Live”, highlighting the risk of misidentification during fast-moving breaking-news coverage.

The broadcast aired on Tuesday evening and included five genuine photographs of Parton alongside the incorrect Getty Images photo of Vohnn, taken at a Las Vegas screening in December 2025. Parton died on 25 August aged 80 after a brief battle with cancer, according to her representatives; Vohnn said seeing herself on screen while mourning Parton felt “weird”.