Her first radio single, "Redneck Woman," spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and it earned her a 2005 Grammy. Her debut album sold 4.5 million copies.

Despite all her successes, the 34-year-old songwriter was one of 20 percent of Tennesseans without a high school diploma. But no longer.

Ms. Wilson, who dropped out in ninth grade, passed her General Educational Development exam in April and will don a cap and gown during a May 15 graduation ceremony.

Lohan to appear on 'Betty'

LOS ANGELES - Lindsay Lohan will make a guest appearance on the season finale of ABC's "Ugly Betty."

The 21-year-old actress is set to play an old schoolmate of America Ferrera's character Betty Suarez on the show's May 22 season closer, according to the trade paper Variety.

Both Variety and Usmagazine.com said Miss Lohan began shooting her scenes during the weekend. Miss Lohan also is expected to appear in five episodes of "Ugly Betty" next season. Her publicist did not immediately return a call seeking comment yesterday.

Miley performs at Disney

ORLANDO, Fla. - Miley Cyrus returned to the stage for a concert in Orlando, Fla., but did not say anything about the recent controversy over her Vanity Fair portrait.

The 15-year-old star of Hannah Montana performed several songs at the Saturday concert that will be included in the Disney Channel Games series on the Disney Channel.

She spotted a sign in the crowd Saturday that said "Miley I'm praying for you," and she responded: "I can't be more appreciative of that."

Chinese to play for pope

BEIJING - The China Philharmonic Orchestra plans to perform this week for Pope Benedict XVI, state media reported today, the latest indication the often-strained ties between Beijing and the Vatican are improving.

The performance at the Vatican on Wednesday, featuring Mozart's "Requiem," was initiated by the Chinese and arranged rather quickly, conductor Yu Long told the state-run China Daily.

"I certainly feel very excited. It is a historic visit. Although we played in Rome in 2004, this will be the orchestra's first appearance at the Vatican," Mr. Yu was quoted as saying.

Today's birthdays

Actor John Rhys-Davies is 64. MTV News correspondent Kurt Loder is 63. Newsman Brian Williams is 49. Actress Danielle Fishel is 27. Singer Chris Brown is 19.