Country star Taylor Swift has served up the perfect birthday surprise for her mum - a performance on her favourite show, Saturday Night Live.

The Love Story singer will be the musical guest on this Saturday's broadcast of the U.S. sketch comedy show, and that means she'll be able to spend her mother's birthday on the set in New York.

In a message on her MySpace.com website, the excited teen writes, "I just found out that I get to play on Saturday Night Live!! January 10th! It's my mom's birthday.

"I don't think either of us would've believed you if you would've told us a few years ago that we'd get to spend her birthday in New York City - at Saturday Night Live! Wow. It's pretty unreal."

Swift says her Snl debut is "something I've been dreaming about and hoping for and wishing for years."