Dolly Parton’s New York City Encounter

On October 14, 2005, during an appearance on Late Night With Conan O’Brien, Dolly Parton shared a compelling story from her past about an encounter in New York City where she found herself in a threatening situation.

Parton recounted a trip she took to NYC with her then-assistant, Judy Ogle, sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s. They were both newcomers to the city and, after checking into their hotel, left their bags behind to explore. Unfortunately, upon returning, they were asked to leave by hotel staff who mistakenly believed they were engaging in illicit activities.

During her conversation with O’Brien, Parton said they asked to at least leave their belongings in the lobby while they waited to leave the hotel. “We were just wandering around, trying to figure out where to go,” she explained.

Somehow, they ended up on 42nd Street where Parton felt their presence was misinterpreted by a man who approached them. “This guy thought we were looking for trouble,” she said, describing her youthful, country girl demeanor.

When O’Brien expressed surprise at the mention of a gun in her purse, Parton affirmed, “Yeah, I had a gun in my purse. He wouldn’t stop bothering me, thinking I was playing hard to get.”

In a moment of desperation, she pulled out her weapon and warned him, “If you touch me one more time, I’m gonna shoot you.”

Years later, on August 11, 2021, NRA Women included Parton in a list of celebrity gun advocates, highlighting her reflections on that frightening experience. She candidly admitted, “I was terrified, and I was mad too.”

According to the publication, she has since vowed never to feel that way again and has carried her .38 caliber handgun with her everywhere.