The 2008 Best New Female Vocalist of the Year, Taylor Swift, is set to perform on Nashville Star as part of the show's two-hour season premiere. Touted as the first country music star of the MySpace generation, Swift (18) is also the first female country artist to write or co-write every song on her debut platinum-selling album. One of country music's youngest songwriters, her single "Our Song" spent six weeks atop Billboard's country chart.

The show's premiere will also feature highlights from the auditions and reveal the Top 12 Finalists who will be crooning their way into your hearts this summer. I know Nashville Star sounds like the country music version of American Idol but judge John Rich begs to differ. Read what he said about the show, any comparisons to Idol, and Paula Abdul back the NBC / Universal summer press event held in May.

Nashville Star premieres on Monday June 9th, 9-11 p.m. ET, on NBC. Will you be watching?

On Friday I attended the All-American Summer Press Event held by NBC Universal. The event was held at the Langham Hotel (formerly the Ritz-Carlton) in Pasadena, CA. It included the casts and producers of the following shows: American Gladiators, Nashville Star, Shear Genius, and Last Comic Standing. NBC also held panels for two new shows: Celebrity Circus and Baby Borrowers.

Find out what Wolf said and what's in store for next season on NBC and Bravo after the jump...