TVSquad

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...

A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much.

The folks at RealityWanted.com often send us a list of new and existing reality shows that are looking for new, er, talent, and they've given us permission to make mention of them here. We'll try to make this a regular feature as often as we get a new list.

This time we have Nashville Star, America's Next Top Model, Master of Dance and other new shows.

The Black Donnellys (Mon., 10PM, NBC) series premiere
There are no original ideas in the movies -- everything's a sequel, prequel or "re-imagining." So, it's no surprise that this new show from Oscar-winning movie producers Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco (Crash) tries to be an Irish version of The Sopranos. The Donnellys comprise four brothers: hothead Jimmy, gambling Kevin, artistic Tommy and baby Sean. When Jimmy kidnaps Kevin's bookie, the brothers find themselves facing off against the Italian mob.

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (Tue., 9:30PM, Fox) series premiere
Class is in session! Reality TV maestro Mark Burnett presents this new game show that tests just how much adults have forgotten since their elementary school days. Over three days this week, host Jeff Foxworthy will asks questions about everything from math to grammer to American history. And instead of using a lifeline or asking the mob, contestants can turn to some pint-sized experts: a group of real fifth graders.

Winter X Games (9PM, ESPN)
Last year's Winter Olympics opened my eyes to an unfamiliar sport: snowboard cross. How awesome is a superfast downhill race where competitors jostle each other while facing jumps, banks and moguls? And you gotta love the wipeouts. Twenty-year-old snowboarding star Shaun White won't be competing in the cross, but he will take on the the superpipe and slopestyle.

Singer Jewel is the next in the revolving door of celebrities who take on hosting duties for Nashville Star. Last season, it was Wynonna and Cowboy Troy (he's returning as co-host), and before that it was Leann Rhimes and Nancy ODell. Even though I swear she had gone pop, the press release from USA says Jewel grew up on country music so I guess that's all it takes. Plus she's a songwriter and musician just like the contestants on Nashville Star are supposed to be. It's an interesting career move, anyway.

Season 5 of Nashville Star premieres on Thursday, January 11th at 10 pm on USA.

I'm going to come right out and admit to you lovely people that I watched the first season of Nashville Star. I voted for Buddy Jewell and I was glad to see him win. What I like about Nashville Star, is that the singers are required to perform their own, original songs. That's right. It's not all karaoke. They are also required to write an original song during competition and perform it (at least, that's what happened during the first season). Many of the performers also play their own instruments. Despite being a genre of music that I'm not especially fond of, I really enjoyed the originality of the performers. Especially compared to a certain singing competition that is huge right now.

So, tell me. Do you watch Nashville Star?

The producers of Nashville Star have gone all out with their website. First, you can download individual audio performances immediately after they air. Unfortunately, they don't like Mac users, so I can't tell you how much they cost. But, I do know that there is a charge for each song.

Plus, you can upload your own photo to the Nashville Star website and put yourself in a music video. Kinda corny, I know. But it's the kind of corny that kills time in the cubicle.

How many of y'all watch that there country music singing contest?

[Via Lost Remote]