Amy refused visa for Grammys
2008-02-08 07:44
London - Amy Winehouse has been denied a visa to enter the United States, preventing the troubled British singer from appearing at this weekend's Grammy awards ceremony, her publicists said on Thursday.
The soul artist, 24, admitted to a rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago to overcome a drug addiction, earned six nominations for the music industry's most prestigious awards.
She had been due to sing at Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles.
"Amy Winehouse will not be performing at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony," her publicists The Outside Organisation said in a statement.
"Unfortunately, her application for a visa to enter the United States of America has been rejected at this time by the American Embassy in London.
They said Winehouse was "progressing well" in rehab, and while disappointed not to get a visa, "there will of course be other opportunities and she very much looks forward to visiting America in the near future".
Winehouse was questioned by police in Britain on Tuesday after she was filmed last month apparently smoking crack cocaine.
Due in court
The incident occurred hours before she attended a court hearing involving her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, who is awaiting trial on assault and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice charges.
As well as being nominated in the best new artist Grammy category, Winehouse received nods for her hit single Rehab in the record of the year category and Back to Black in the album of the year slot.
Rehab also earned Winehouse nominations for song of the year and best female pop vocal performance, while Back to Black was also nominated for best pop vocal album.
Winehouse is due in court in Bergen, Norway, on February 29 after being arrested and fined for drug use and possession of marijuana.