Winehouse Gets Visa, but Won't Come
Feb. 8, 2008, 5:19 PM EST
The Associated Press

LONDON -- Amy Winehouse's visa to the United States has been granted, but the troubled singer won't be traveling to the Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles to perform in person, her representatives said Friday.

"Following further discussions involving the U.S. Embassy in London and officials in the United States, Amy Winehouse has been granted a visa to enter the United States of America," the Outside Organization said in a statement. "Unfortunately, due to the logistics involved and timing complications, Amy will not be traveling to the U.S. to perform at the Grammys in person."

The British singer's original visa application was denied under U.S. immigration rules regarding the "use and abuse of narcotics," according to a senior State Department official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because internal application deliverations by the U.S. Embassy are confidential, but noted that the Department of Homeland Security was "rapidly" processing an appeal by Winehouse.

Winehouse was to leave the rehab clinic where she has spent the past two weeks on Friday, her representatives said — a day after they announced that her visa had been denied. As a backup, Winehouse was planning to perform live via satellite from a studio in London, where she would also be available to accept any awards.

Winehouse and her acclaimed "Back to Black" album are nominated for Grammys in six categories