Country music legend Dolly Parton swore shed never return to New York City after she was mistaken for a prostitute.
The singer has been on a whirlwind press tour of the city as she prepares for the opening night of Broadway musical 9 to 5 on Thursday (30Apr09).
And Parton admits she boycotted the Big Apple for many years after she was propositioned by a stranger for sex during a vacation with a girlfriend over 40 years ago.
She remembers, Our daddies had given us both a gun when we left home. So I had a gun. We didnt know we were walking around on 42nd street. Thats where it was bad and the prostitutes run in pairs for their safety.
"We looked like we might be them (prostitutes) because I still had the big hair, looking trashy like I do. This guy was trying to put the make on me, kept pushing me against the wall... I said, 'Look, if you touch me one more time Im gonna shoot you!'"
And when the scared pair were locked out of the hotel, Parton left in a fury, certain she'd never look back.
She adds, "They thought we were turning tricks. Our luggage was in the hall. We had to go to the airport wait for hours and hours. I didnt come back here for years. I thought Id never come back.