Dolly Parton's most famous impersonator reveals how country icon saved her life

James Desborough in Las VegasFri, August 28, 2026 at 3:05 AM UTC

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Kelly Vohnn is a famous Dolly Parton impersonator -Credit:James Desborough

The world's most famous Dolly Parton impersonator has revealed how the beloved country music legend helped her during her toughest times.

Las Vegas entertainer Kelly Vohnn detailed how becoming Dolly doppelgänger helped get back on her feet after a bitter divorce three decades ago. The talented singer found becoming the 9 to 5 icon picked up her spirits and allowed her a full-time career touring 31 years ago.

Kelly, 58, had to reassess her life as she was breaking through as a solo country recording artist, on her own record label called P.A.Y B.A.C.K. Records. She enjoyed success with her debut hits and CD "A New Beginning" in Europe and scored a national distribution deal with Song Canada. It comes as Dolly Parton's heartbreaking last ten-word statement before her death has been revealed.

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However, Kelly, who was picking up international recognition and even awarded "Canadian Country Artist of the Year" in Nashville, TN, had to rethink her life as her marriage shattered. She toured with Keith Burton's Tribute Show to do solo gigs as Dolly and mimic other top female acts because of her stellar vocal range.

Hard worker Kelly balanced building that business with being a single mother of three young children, Brittany, Amanda and Chris, who often would see her perform as Dolly, Patsy Cline, Shania Twain, Reba McEntire and Madonna.

Her critically acclaimed work transformed into a one-woman show called "Kelly Vohnn Divas," which was then booked in Vegas.

Over the last two decades she has become one of the most high profile and celebrated Dolly impersonators in the world.

Kelly admitted: "Dolly helped change my life. She was a blessing for me. Her spirit, music and outlook on life have always been a huge influence and key to how I have got through the tough times and savored the great moments.

CNN once mistook Kelly Vohnn for Dolly Parton -Credit:CNN

"It is no underestimate to say she had a guiding hand in giving me a wonderful life as an artist and mother. Even though I was devastated and incredibly sad at her passing, Dolly still is in my heart and soul.

"My life really did change with Dolly because I was going through a divorce, had three little babies, and life got very hard," she said.

Kelly's truck washer husband walked out on his family in Toronto, even taking the car and furniture, after six years together. She had to step back from her music career to prioritize feeding her family and keeping a roof over their heads, as she claims the hubby refused to offer any child support.

"It was a chaotic time and sink or swim back then. At that time, I was balancing building my country career in Europe, investing money into that business.

"It got to the point where I had choose new paying for new shoes for the kids or studio sessions. It was unfair and exhausting for everyone. So portraying Dolly allowed me to pay my bills and spend more time with my children, because I homeschooled them all while working on these shows.

"We'd be gone for three months at a time on these shows. So I'd spend all the day with them, teaching them or having fun and then go to work for a couple hours.

"Dolly really allowed that to happen. And it was a beautiful, beautiful thing. And I'm so grateful. I owe her a lot. I have been all over the US and Canada because of her."

Dolly's passing from cancer this week was like "an emotional atom bomb" in Kelly's heart.

"I was totally shocked, because you think Dolly would be around forever. I felt really alone and deeply saddened by the world losing such a special person.

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"She was one of the most extraordinary humans that was on the planet. And I feel like she was an inspiration, not only in business, music and in entertaining, but an inspiration as a human being.

"Because she was always kind, always giving. She donated to and created so many charities. She didn't have to, but she chose to. And with the I Will Always Love You hit from Whitney Houston, she took those proceeds to create the Imagination Library, and was always giving back to the underprivileged and for those in society.

"She came from an impoverished lifestyle, never forgot where she started and always thanked God.

Dolly Parton passed away at 80 -Credit:AP

"She felt she was very blessed, and so she wanted to pass on her blessings to other people.And I feel like, you know, we all have the choice to do that. But not many of us do that. And she did. And so that's, I think that's one of the things, many things that makes her extraordinary."

Kelly considered taking time away from the stage as a tribute to the star.

However, she then reflected on how the 9 to 5 singer songwriter would want her to react and vowed to continue as Dolly to promote her music and soul.

"It was difficult to return to work. "But I have returned to sing and be her - Dolly would have wanted it that way.

"The day after her husband Carl died, she was out at Dollywood, letting upset fans know that she was okay and was ready for work again, because she took a lot of time off to be with him while he was sick. And that was her motto: 'the show must go on.'

"Singing I Will Always Love You again for me was a tear jerker. I had to hold it in. And it's gonna be difficult for the foreseeable future. My work now is going to take on a whole new meaning.

"Singing these songs and portraying her is more of an honor than ever, just keeping her spirit alive, and delivering her message of being kind. We have to keep her spirit alive.

"She was one of the greatest achievers. And the busier I am, the less mourning I will do." On Wednesday an audiences at Henderson's Italian restaurant Prosecco gave her a standing ovation for her Dolly performances during an intimate show for customers.

Kelly was upset to not have met Dolly, especially because she was expected to perform a residency in Las Vegas last year. However, the star cancelled amid her health woes.

"I really hoped that I would have been able to see the show in Vegas and be introduced to her through mutual acquaintances. I would have told her how grateful I am at how she's developed me as a person, artist and an entertainer. I will honor her spirit as best I can through my shows."

Kelly's business success is mirrored now by her personal life too

"I met the man of my dreams, who is now my husband, so I stayed in Las Vegas."

Kelly made headlines this week when CNN bosses mistakenly showed photos of her on a red carpet rather than the beloved country music legend in their tribute segment.

The global news network aired photos taken during a Sin City special screening red carpet for Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman’s hit movie Song Sung Blue in December.

Kelly admitted: “I still cannot believe how much headlines that made.

"I know it was a mistake but it was very weird. I started getting all these texts in from friends saying that I was on CNN, not Dolly. And to be clear I have never represented myself as Dolly in public.

“I thought about calling CNN, but was really consumed by the grief of losing Dolly that I just wanted to be at home with my thoughts, raising a glass of wine to that brilliant woman.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”