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U.S. To Amy Winehouse: No, No, No!

Thursday, February 07, 2008 | 11:07 PM

Amy Winehouse will not be on hand for the Grammy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 10) in Los Angeles, after her visa application to enter the United States was rejected by the American Embassy in London.

This will surely be derided as puritanical and premature in Europe and the UK. From the NYT blog The Lede:

Her application seemed in doubt on Tuesday, when she exited a rehabilitation clinic in London after 11 days to meet with embassy officials. A day later, she was questioned by police regarding a video that appeared to show her smoking crack cocaine.

“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,” a statement distributed on her behalf said.

Ms. Winehouse’s absence will raise questions for the event’s organizers, who must prepare for her to win at least one of the six awards she’s up for. The nominations include all four of the most prestigious categories: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist.

Organizers also have a severe shortage of drama as well, according to a critic for the Chicago Tribune who penned an essay, “Why the Grammys really need Amy Winehouse.”

“Would the British singer get out of a rehab clinic in time to perform her hit ‘Rehab’ on the nationally televised awards show?,” Greg Kot asked. By now he must know the answer, which like all bad news, came in threes: “No, no, no.”

Ms. Winehouse was by no means the first musician to face restrictions on her global travels. Snoop Dogg was barred from Britain in 2006 and Australia in April, when he was set to co-host the MTV Australia Awards.

Previously

Amy Winehouse
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2007/04/amy_winehouse.html

Friday Night Jazz: Amy Winehouse http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2007/12/friday-night-ja.html

Sources:
February 7, 2008, 4:44 pm
Amy Winehouse Denied Entry to U.S.
MIKE NIZZA
http://tinyurl.com/2uvqsm

Why the Grammys really need Amy Winehouse
Greg Kot
Chicago Tribune, February 3, 2008
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0203_music_coverfeb03,1,7704835.story