CNN was forced to apologize to Dolly Parton’s family for mistakenly using a photo of a Las Vegas impersonator of the country music legend while reporting on her death.
The cable news network aired an image of tribute artist Kelly Vohnn as it covered Parton’s Tuesday death from cancer — leaving the 58-year-old Vohnn stunned as friends began bombarding her with messages.
The errant image were broadcast during “Laura Coates Live” some 12 hours after Parton’s death was announced by her family.
“We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,” CNN told The Post in a brief Thursday statement.
Vohnn said the photo was taken in December when she appeared on the red carpet at a Las Vegas screening of “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,” Vohnn told The Post on Thursday.
“I was already heartbroken at losing Dolly because of how much she has given to me as a woman and an artist,” she continued.
“But then to see these images of me on screen was just weird.”
Vohnn, a longtime singer and tribute performer who has portrayed Parton throughout her career, blasted the network for the embarrassing mix-up.
“Somebody at CNN really messed up and didn’t do their research,” she said.
“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.”
Vohnn stressed that she has never tried to pass herself off as the real “Jolene” singer.
“To be clear, I have never represented myself as being Dolly ever in my life,” she said. “I have always been known as a tribute act for her and many other stars.
“It was quite embarrassing, to be honest,” Vohnn said of the CNN snafu.
Vohnn added that she considered contacting CNN herself, but was too devastated by Parton’s death at age 80 to pursue the matter.
“I thought about calling CNN, but was really consumed by the grief of losing Dolly [and] I just wanted to be at home with my thoughts, raising a glass of wine to that brilliant woman,” she explained.
Vohnn, who was born and raised in Toronto, began her career in the Keith Burton Tribute Show before pursuing a career as a country music artist.
She recorded her debut album, “A New Beginning,” and later returned to tribute performing while raising three children, eventually moving her family to Las Vegas and developing her one-woman show, “Kelly Vohnn Divas.”
Vohnn went on to perform in Vegas productions including “Cowboy Cabaret” and “Cowboy Christmas” and portrayed celebrities as a “Dealertainer” at the Imperial Palace.
Her Reba McEntire act became another signature character, and in November 2010 she won a Reba McEntire look-alike contest in New York City.
But Vohnn said Parton had a singular impact on her life and career.
“Dolly has been a real force in my life, helping me through the lowest and highest moments of my life,” Vohnn said.
“She really changed the world for so many people [and] for me personally.”
