Country star Wilson finishes high school at 34

Country star Wilson finishes high school at 34

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country music singer Gretchen Wilson has a mantel full of awards in her Lebanon home.

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.

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.

Cyrus sings for 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.

Cyrus didn’t attend Friday’s red-carpet party for the games at Disney’s Epcot Center, where she would have faced questions from the media.

Cyrus has said she was embarrassed by the photo, which shows her wrapped in a sheet with her back exposed.

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.”

Today’s birthdays

Actor Lance Henriksen (“Millennium,” “Aliens”) is 68. Actor Roger Rees (“Boston Common”) is 64. Actor John Rhys-Davies (“Lord of the Rings,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark”) is 64. MTV News correspondent Kurt Loder is 63. Drummer Bill Ward of Black Sabbath is 60. Newsman Brian Williams is 49. Actress Tina Yothers (“Family Ties”) is 35. Singer Chris Brown is 19.