Publicist: Winehouse's visa request denied; singer will not attend Grammys

LONDON -- Amy Winehouse will not attend this year's Grammy Awards because her request for a visa has been turned down by the U.S. Embassy, her representatives said Thursday.

The Outside Organization, Winehouse's media agency, said in an e-mail that Winehouse was disappointed but had been treated well by Embassy staff.

"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," the Outside Organization said.

The statement didn't say why her application was rejected. The U.S. Embassy in London declined to comment late Thursday. Shane O'Neill, Winehouse's spokesman, said he had nothing to add to the statement.

The 24-year-old singer and her acclaimed "Back to Black" album are nominated in six categories at the Grammy Awards Sunday in Los Angeles.

Since the album's U.S. release last year, she has canceled a slew of appearances amid reports of drug use.

Last month, The Sun newspaper ran still images from a video that it claimed showed Winehouse inhaling fumes from a small pipe. The images were said to have been filmed during a party at her London home.

Shortly thereafter, Winehouse entered a London rehabilitation center, and has been questioned by police.

In October, Winehouse and Fielder-Civil, were arrested in Norway on charges of marijuana possession, for which they were fined. In November, Winehouse's Norwegian attorney, Ole Kvelstad, said her payment of the fine amounted to a guilty plea, which he said could have serious consequences if she sought to enter the U.S.

Winehouse canceled an appearance at the 2007 mtvU Woodie Awards in November "due to visa issues."

Other British music acts have had difficulty securing visas. Lily Allen was scheduled to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards in September, but the pop star's immigration visa was revoked. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services hasn't commented, but her manager has said he suspected it was because Allen was arrested in London in June after an altercation with photographers.