See 'Bachelorette' a couple months early

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Emily Maynard and the cast and crew of ABC's "The Bachelorette" will be filming at the N.C. Music Factory on Friday, according to a source at the uptown venue.

Maynard and her date reportedly will have dinner at the new Osso Restaurant & Lounge, following a 9 p.m. red-carpet arrival. After dinner (at approximately 10:30 p.m.), the couple will watch a concert by country-music band Gloriana on the Music Factory's outdoor stage, the source says.

The concert and the opportunity to catch wind of the show's taping is free and open to the public, although space will of course be limited.

Meanwhile, ABC on Monday announced the official premiere date for eighth edition of "The Bachelorette": Monday, May 14. The star, Maynard, is a 26-year-old single mom who lives in Charlotte; she was engaged to NASCAR driver Ricky Hendrick, who died in a plane crash in 2004.

Maynard won "The Bachelor" last year and became engaged to Brad Womack, but they broke off their relationship in June. She was named the new "Bachelorette" in January.

The show will film here in Charlotte -- where Maynard is raising her 6-year-old daughter Ricki, 6 -- as well as in other locations.