Amy Winehouse Banned From the U.S. (Again)

Mon., Mar. 9, 2009 8:01 AM PDT by Josh Grossberg

Robert Smith, Amy Winehouse, Paul McCartney

AP Photo/ Yui Mok, Kevin Mazur Getty Images, Lester Cohen/ Getty Images No Expiration

Déjà vu all over again for Amy Winehouse.

A year and a half after she was barred from entering the country to attend the Grammys because of a drug rap, U.S. authorities are now refusing to grant the "Rehab" singer a work visa to perform at next month's Coachella festival, citing her assault arrest last week.

Her rep said that Winehouse would not be able to appear at the mega festival in Indio, Calif., due to her "current legal issues."

"[Her] legal case would not be sorted out in time for her to make the music fest," said publicist Chris Goodman.

That means Winehouse will no longer be part of a high-octane lineup that includes Paul McCartney, the Cure, the Killers, Leonard Cohen, My Bloody Valentine and Conor Oberst, among many others.

The visa decision is a big blow to Winehouse, who has been trying to work through her myriad personal issues and focus on her career.

Winehouse's latest trouble dates back to her September set at London's exclusive End of Summer Ball. According to police, the diva purportedly went Sean Penn on a fan who wanted a photograph.

The 25-year-old singer has been ordered to appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court to face a common assault charge on March 17.

By now, she knows the drill.

Last April, police cautioned her after she smacked a man's face, an incident for which she later apologized after voluntarily turning herself in and being held in custody overnight. It's not known how that transgression will affect her current case.

Winehouse was previously prohibited from playing in the U.S. ahead of last year's Grammys after she was busted in Norway on a pot charge. By the time her lawyers managed to convince immigration officials to reverse the decision, it was too late and the songstress ended up performing live via satellite, and wound up winning five trophies, including Album of the Year.

As of press time, Winehouse was still listed as a performer on Coachella's website.