NEW YORK (AFP) — Troubled British singer Amy Winehouse has been granted a US visa but will still not travel to the United States to perform at this weekend's Grammy awards ceremony, her publicist said Friday.
Winehouse, a star attraction of the awards having scooped six nominations in the categories of record, album and song of the year, best new artist, best pop vocal album and best female pop vocalist, will instead perform via satellite.
The 24-year-old singer had previously been denied a visa for undisclosed reasons, although her drug history was suspected to be the root cause.
"Unfortunately, due to the logistics involved and timing complications, Amy will not be coming to the US this weekend to perform at the Grammys in Los Angeles," her publicist Tracey Miller said in a statement.
"However she will still be performing via satellite broadcast from London as previously announced."
Winehouse, who was admitted to a drug rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago said in a statement earlier she was "raring to go and really excited to be performing at my first Grammy Awards."
"I'd like to thank everyone for their support over the last couple of weeks. I'm really sorry I can't be there but I appreciate that I'm being given a second chance via satellite," she added.
The soul artist had originally been due to sing in person at Sunday's ceremony, considered the music industry's most prestigious awards.
But on Thursday her publicists said her application for a visa had been rejected. She was "progressing well" in rehab, and while disappointed not to get a visa, hoped to visit America "in the near future," they said.
Winehouse was questioned by police in Britain on Tuesday after she was filmed last month apparently smoking crack cocaine.
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.
Winehouse is also due in court in Norway on February 29 after being arrested and fined for drug use and possession of marijuana.
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