Taylor Swift to Join James Taylor on Stage at Tanglewood

The upcoming Independence Day holiday gets an early start with the promise of musical fireworks when country-pop songstress Taylor Swift performs with the legendary James Taylor during his July 2 show at Tanglewood, the iconic music venue nestled in the Berkshire mountains of western Massachusetts. Sources confirmed the special performance to the Berkshire Eagle newspaper on Monday, June 25.

The young singer is a longtime fan of the "Fire and Rain" singer, as were her parents, who named her after him. The pair first met five years ago at a New York City benefit where they were both performing. She later invited him to perform with her as a surprise guest last November at the conclusion of her Speak Now world tour at New York's Madison Square Garden. (See photo above.)

Recapping the evening, the Wall Street Journal noted that "the duo's tranquil acoustic performance on a sofa had the vague air of an elderly father strumming guitar with his progeny, as Swift, 22, in a voluminous ball gown, and Mr. Taylor, 64, languidly crooned 'Fire and Rain.'" Additionally, as Taylor sang her hit, "Fifteen," the elder pop icon strummed guitar.

A few of the highlights from Taylor's 2012 thus far have been beatboxing with LL Cool J, being named Billboard's Woman of the Year and having her Speak Now tour become the subject of an extensive exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In what will surely be the highlight of the year for her fans, the superstar is currently hard at work on her fourth album, due to be released this fall.