February 08, 2008

Amy Winehouse's Visa Denied -- But Will She Appear At The Grammys Via Satellite?

By Gil Kaufman, with additional reporting by Chris Harris (MTV.com)

After months of speculation and suspense over whether Amy Winehouse would perform at Sunday's Grammy Awards - where she is nominated for six awards - a spokesperson confirmed Thursday (February 7) to MTV News that the troubled "Rehab" singer would not be attending the event.

However, later on Thursday, Winehouse's U.S. rep said that the "wheels are in motion" for the singer to appear at the event via satellite, but nothing's been confirmed yet.

The statement released earlier in the day seems to rule out a performance, however. "Amy Winehouse will not be performing at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony," read the statement from her U.K. publicity firm, the Outside Organisation. "The singer has been invited to appear at the event on Sunday after receiving an amazing six nominations for the prestigious awards. 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."

Winehouse, who has been in a rehab facility since January, was questioned by British police on Wednesday about a video that surfaced online two weeks ago that purportedly shows the singer smoking crack cocaine. No charges have been filed against the singer, but an investigation into the video is said to be ongoing. According to the statement, "Amy has been progressing well since entering a rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago and although disappointed with the decision has accepted the ruling and will be concentrating on her recovery."

Winehouse would have been one of only a handful of new breakout talents from 2007 on a Grammys performance roster heavy with established stars such as Beyoncé, Foo Fighters, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and a tribute to the Beatles.

Though fans have come to know her signature look - which includes dirty, tattered ballet slippers, a towering, often disheveled beehive hairdo and ratty, low-cut jeans - Winehouse has been photographed lately looking healthier and less gaunt than she did prior to checking into the facility, when her drawn, hollow-eyed appearance raised renewed questions about her health.

Winehouse canceled a planned U.S. tour last year after a hospitalization that was reportedly drug-related, and the Grammy performance would have been her first U.S. show in almost nine months.

"There will of course be other opportunities and she very much looks forward to visiting America in the near future," the press release promised.