U.S. Opens Door for Winehouse
The United States has warmed to Winehouse.
After further haggling between U.S. and British officials, Amy Winehouse's visa application was approved Friday, meaning the soulful songstress is free to serenade on U.S. shores despite the government's previous reluctance to grant the request.
As of Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in London had nixed the idea. That put an end to the possibility that Winehouse would be performing live at Sunday's 50th Annual Grammy Awards, where she and her beyond impressive sophomore album, "Back to Black," are up for six honors.
Winehouse promptly appealed the rejection, which, per State Department officials, hinged on an immigration statute regarding the "use and abuse of narcotics."
Although the bureaucratic breakthrough means the rehabbing "Rehab" artist has the option to tour Stateside once again, plans to perform this weekend via satellite are still in place.
"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," read a statement released by her reps.
"Amy would like to thank all of those people, in particular the staff involved at the U.S. Embassy in London, who have all worked so hard to expedite her application. She is very sad not to be attending the Grammys in person but wishes to express her heartfelt gratitude to all of those involved in the process.
"She is looking forward to being a part of the 50th Annual Grammy Awards with her Sunday night performance and to going back to the U.S. soon."
Perhaps baby steps are best for now, anyway.
After a string of unimpressive live appearances and various run-ins with the law that attracted a widespread amount of concern for her emotional and physical health, Winehouse finally opted to check into drug treatment at the Capio Nightingale clinic on Jan. 24.
Her reps said she was planning to leave the London facility on Friday to start prepping her Grammy act.
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