CNN botches Gloria Steinem tribute days after embarrassing Dolly Parton impersonator mix-up

NY Post ^ | 09/04/2026 | Ariel Zilber

[DFG]

CNN aired a graphic that incorrectly said feminist icon Gloria Steinem died in 2006 — just days after the network was forced to apologize for mistakenly using a photo of a Dolly Parton impersonator in its coverage of the country legend’s death.

The embarrassing graphic appeared during Thursday’s edition of “CNN News Central” as anchor Sara Sidner reported on Steinem’s death at age 92.

But the on-screen tribute showed Steinem’s lifespan as “1934-2006” — shaving two decades off the famed activist’s life.

The error was first spotted by X user Drew Kerr and the FTVLive newsletter.

The blunder came just days after CNN wrongly aired an image of Las Vegas tribute artist Kelly Vohnn during a segment on Parton’s Aug. 25 death from cancer.

CNN later said it was sorry for the Parton mix-up.

“We regret the error and apologize to the Parton family,” the network said in a terse statement.

Vohnn, 58, told The Post she was stunned when friends began bombarding her with messages saying her image was appearing on CNN.

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: cnn; dollyparton; gloriasteinem

[DFG]

[Red Badger]

Networks regularly create these obituary spots well in advance of the actual occurrence.

I remember years back when some network or news agency accidentally released a Bob Hope obituary and was even read on the US Congress House floor..............

[telescope115]

This is just too rich, lol!

Do you remember the MSNBC screwup with the graphic that spelled Niger Inness’s name incorrectly? That was some years ago.