Etheridge Initially Snubbed American Idiot

Melissa Etheridge nearly missed out on making her Broadway debut in hit musical American Idiot - the rocker initially turned down the role.

The Come to My Window hitmaker is standing in for Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong from 1 to 6 February (11), as he takes a break from performing as drug dealer St.

Jimmy in the musical based on his band's hit songs.

But Etheridge admits when show bosses first asked her to step in, she wasn't so sure - although she's glad she changed her mind.

She tells The Associated Press, "It's been crazy. Oh my God, it's so fun, though. I'm having a blast. I'm so outside of my comfort zone and I'm like living out high school fantasies. "When they called me, at first I was like, 'Aw, no.

That's really nice,but no.' Then I kind of sat with it for a couple of days and thought, 'This could be supercool and superfun.'" Armstrong made his Broadway debut in the show in September (10), winning over theatre critics and sending box office sales soaring above $1 million (£666,670) during his week-long run. He reprised the role in the New Year (11) after original castmember Tony Vincent bowed out of the production.