SEASON PREMIERE

FAN FAVORITE EMILY MAYNARD - THE FIRST SINGLE MOM IN "BACHELORETTE" SERIES HISTORY - BEGINS HER OWN SEARCH FOR LOVE IN CHARLOTTE, WHEN THE EIGHTH EDITION OF THE HIT ROMANCE REALITY SERIES, "THE BACHELORETTE," PREMIERES MONDAY, MAY 14, ON ABC

This Season's Highlights Include Extraordinary Trips to Bermuda, London, Dubrovnik and Prague, Special Concerts by Eight-Time Grammy Award-Winner Dolly Parton, Hit Country Band Gloriana And Country Star Luke Bryant, Plus a Scene-Stealing Performance by The Muppets

Emily Maynard, the beautiful, sweet, young mom who captured America's and Brad Womack's heart on the 15th season of "The Bachelor," finally thought she had her happy ending. She accepted Brad's proposal but unfortunately their relationship ended, along with her dream of moving to Austin with her daughter, Ricki, and starting a family. But Emily is ready for her luck to change and to bring her the love she so richly deserves. It's hard to meet men as a single mom, but Emily will have her pick of 25 bachelors when she gets a second opportunity to find love starring in the eighth edition of "The Bachelorette," the female version of ABC's hit romance reality series, premiering MONDAY, MAY 14 (9:31-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Instantly popular with "Bachelor" fans, Emily's strength, passion and southern charm - as a mother and as a woman - would make anyone happy to make her his wife. She feels incredibly grateful to have found her first love when she was very young, although her fianc�, famed NASCAR driver and team owner Ricky Hendrick, tragically died in a plane crash. She then discovered she was pregnant with their child, the apple of her eye - Ricki. Despite not having dated a lot, Emily, 26, knows what it's like to be truly in love. In the past seven years, she has been looking for someone with the same spark she has for life, and she believes that she will find her soul mate on "The Bachelorette."

On the premiere, "Episode 801," Emily's journey begins in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, where she lives with her six-year-old daughter, Ricki. After saying "good night" to Ricki, Emily arrives at a southern mansion where she meets her 25 potential soulmates who have traveled across the country. They include a biology teacher, a mushroom farmer, a marine biologist and a ex-professional football player. Emily is nervous, but her anxiety slips away and soon turns to laughter as a single dad produces a glass slipper and proclaims her a princess; a youthful entrepreneur swoops in on a skateboard; a party MC shows off his dance moves; and a southern gentleman brings something special that symbolizes his dedication to protecting her and Ricki. But although one man's grand entrance in a helicopter impresses Emily, it only makes him a target of jealousy and ridicule from the other bachelors.

Inside the mansion, the battle is on among the eager suitors vying for the attention of the southern belle. A confident man is eager to charm Emily, but he is upstaged by a single father of six excited to show off his family photos to her. One handsome man wins her over with a pair of custom bobble head dolls, but another bachelor is extremely nervous when he reveals his career, fearing that it will remind her of her late fianc�. The night turns more emotional when another single dad brings her a heartwarming letter from his 11-year-old son. The competition erupts into a full-fledged competition when Chris Harrison brings out the coveted first impression rose. A tough-talking entertainer confronts the wealthy suitor who dropped in via helicopter, accusing him of being selfish and insincere. But unaware of the tension, Emily is stolen away by the skateboarder, whose soft-spoken and self-confident ways impress her. Everyone holds their breath as Emily gives out the first impression rose to one charming bachelor, but no one can blame her for choosing him. By the end of the night, Emily will have 19 men left to compete for her affections and, in the end, her heart.

A list of bachelors will be released shortly.

Emily's hunt for Mr. Right will take place during some of the most romantic and adventurous dates ever, with exciting surprises in store for both her and her bachelors as they travel around the world for intimate dates in Bermuda, London, Dubrovnik, Prague and other exciting locations. A jam packed schedule in Charlotte has Emily taking one lucky man to an exclusive red carpet affair, including a romantic dinner for two and a special concert by hit country band Gloriana. Emily may have to kiss one more frog to get her prince as she and a group of bachelors perform live for a worthy cause with The Muppets, including Kermit and Miss Piggy. Country music star Luke Bryan serenades Emily and one handsome bachelor, but only after the two attempt to scale a tall building. Even Emily's best friends get to grill 12 of the men and put them to the test in a park full of children. In a delightful surprise to both Emily and one of the men, they travel to one of Emily's favorite places - Dollywood -- and are serenaded by none other than the Queen of Country herself, Dolly Parton.

Then Emily and the remaining men journey to beautiful Bermuda. But three bachelors will not be leaving the Bermuda Triangle with her at the end of their stay. The bachelorette then whisks the remaining men across the Atlantic to London for a week of royal romance, including a double-decker bus tour of Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park and a very special dinner with one lucky guy in the Tower of London. A group of the bachelors do their best to harness their inner thespians as they rehearse and perform scenes from "Romeo and Juliet" in Stratford-on-Avon. Historic and picturesque Dubrovnik is the backdrop for the group's next set of romantic adventures. After a sneak peek at the next eagerly awaited Pixar film, "Brave," a group of spirited bachelors compete in a round of Highland games in order to win extra time with Emily. The magnificent city of Prague plays host to Emily and her remaining men as they variously have a private dinner cruise down the Vltava River, explore a medieval castle and even have a date to marionette shop and visit the Lennon Wall of Love and a spooky dungeon. Finally, after the crucial hometown dates, three lucky men travel with Emily to an exotic destination for some of the most intimate and sensual overnight dates ever. Emily will have traveled the world again for love, but will she finally make her own fairytale come true?

As in the past, men will continue to be eliminated each week, but if at any point along the way a bachelor should decide that he's no longer interested in the Bachelorette, he can reject her invitation to continue dating. Two lucky men will meet her family, and she will visit the final bachelors' hometowns for a slice of their lives in an effort to determine the man with whom she is most compatible -- but there are surprises in store for Emily that will shake her world. At the end of the journey, the Bachelorette may quite possibly have found true love. But the big question is: After all of this, will he pop the question, and will she say yes?

Hosted by Chris Harrison, "The Bachelorette" is a production of Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are the executive producers. "The Bachelorette" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with stereo sound. A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.

This episode of "The Bachelorette" will be available on ABC.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online. Photos of "The Bachelorette" are available at www.abcmedianet.com or 818-460-6611.