By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer 18 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - Deep inside, we all want to be rock stars.

That’s why musicians have done so well with their fashion lines, said Hal Rubenstein, fashion director for In Style magazine and curator of the “Grammy Salute to Fashion” event at Hollywood nightclub Boulevard 3.

“Music has always been an enormous influence on how we look and how we dress,” he said, citing the Beatles’ haircuts and Lenny Kravitz’s hippie style. “There are over two dozen Grammy-nominated artists who have their own clothing line.”

Thursday’s event put the spotlight on collections by six of them: Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Sean Combs, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Simpson.

Their lines were chosen because “they had the widest selection, they had the highest profile, they had great distribution, and people know who these people are,” Rubenstein said. “These are people who not only make clothes people want, but people know who they are and everyone loves the way these people look.”

The show opened with Lopez’s Just Sweet collection, which was all about colorful sundresses. Next came Jay-Z’s Rocawear line, mostly multicolored hoodies modeled by shirtless hunks with perfect abs.

From Timberlake’s William Rast brand came a series of skintight jeans and bright tank tops, while Simpson’s line included a half-dozen bright bikinis covered with ’60s-inspired graphic prints.

Combs’ Sean John and Beyonce’s House of Dereon brought the eveningwear. The Sean John collection included short shifts in satin and chiffon and a scene-stealing purple halter dress with a swingy pleated skirt. House of Dereon had embellished gold and silver minidresses that screamed “Vegas,” plus elegant offerings such as an empire-waist chiffon gown in a bright aqua blue.

The 10-minute fashion show was followed by a sexy eight-song set by Rihanna, who is up for four awards at Sunday’s Grammys. The 19-year-old pop star also dabbles in clothing design. She will be contributing her creations to the H&M “Fashion against AIDS” effort.

None of the night’s featured designers made an appearance at the “Grammy Salute to Fashion,” where the Recording Academy introduced its own Grammy brand. At least two of the event’s celebrity guests said they planned to launch their own clothing lines.

Ludacris said he has a collection in the works, though he wouldn’t offer any details, and “Dreamgirls” star Keith Robinson said he was planning a men’s line of jackets and T-shirts in “vivid colors.”

Musicians have long set fashion trends, Robinson said.

“We dictate style. We dictate the cool,” he said. “If you got a great song but a dirty T-shirt and that song is a hit, believe it or not, you keep wearing that dirty T-shirt, it will sell at the store; $900.”

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said musicians are well-suited for fashion design because they’re renaissance people.

“Part of what they do is music, part of what they do is art, part of what they do is visual, part of what they do is musical and I think it’s a natural,” he said. “It’s an additional expression of an artist who has that ability.”

Grammy-nominated stars will likely make another fashion statement Sunday when the 50th annual awards air live from the Staples Center on CBS.

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On the Net:

CBS:

http://www.cbs.com/specials/46grammys/

Josh Grossberg Thu Feb 7, 10:20 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Jack Black just can't stop kidding around.

The School of Rock star has signed on for a second stint as emcee of Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards, which celebrates child-friendly entertainment fare…and green slime.

The cable network will air the 21st annual go-round live on Mar. 29 from UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.

"I had a ball hosting the Kids Choice Awards, and I'm gearing up big-time to 'take charge' of the chaos and mess again this year. After all, I'm a second-time dad-to-be," said Black, who's expecting his second child with wife Tanya Haden. "I have a lot of secret plans, and I hope to give as good as I get when it comes to good, clean, slimy-green fun."

Funnily enough, the 38-year-old actor-comedian made a similar promise before hosting the kudoscast two years ago, when he pledged—use your imagination here—to bring the "super-duper, freaky-deaky ultraclowny superdance."

Freaky-deaky superdances and secret plans aside, having Black back for an encore should make for an exhilarating, if slimy, evening at a kudoscast that's become the Oscars for the prepubescent set.

The Favorite Movie category features a decidedly un-Academy-like face-off among Alvin and the Chipmunks, Are We Done Yet?, The Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Transformers. Shrek the Third will vie for Favorite Animated Movie with Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie, Ratatouille and The Simpsons Movie.

Johnny Depp will duke it out with Eddie Murphy, Ice Cube and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for Favorite Male Movie Star, while Jessica Alba competes with Drew Barrymore, Kirsten Dunst and Keira Knightley for Favorite Female Movie Star.

And what would a tween-happy event be without Miley Cyrus?

The Hannah Montana star scored three nods: Favorite Female Singer, Favorite TV Show and Favorite Television Actress, where she's up against Britney's pregnant sis, Jamie Lynn Spears.

Also on the tube side, Fox's kid-centric game show Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? will compete against the network's top-rated American Idol, NBC's Deal or No Deal? and the CW's America's Next Top Model for Favorite Reality Series.

Nickelodeon's own Drake & Josh and iCarly meanwhile will go head-to-head with the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

Bow Wow, Chris Brown, Soulja Boy and last year's Kids' Choice host, Justin Timberlake, racked up noms for Favorite Male Singer.

The winners will be determined by Nick's viewers, who will cast their votes online in 18 different categories starting Mar. 3. Surprise awards will also be announced during the show.

Here's a complete rundown of nominees:

  • Favorite Movie:  Alvin and the Chipmunks, Are We Done Yet?, The Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Transformers   • Favorite Movie Actor:  Ice Cube, Are We Done Yet?, Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, The Game Plan, Eddie Murphy, Norbit   • Favorite Movie Actress:  Jessica Alba, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,  Drew Barrymore, Music and Lyrics, Kirsten Dunst, Spiderman 3, Keira Knightley, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End   • Favorite Animated Movie:  Bee Movie, Ratatouille, Shrek the Third, The Simpsons Movie   • Favorite Voice from an Animated Feature:  Cameron Diaz, Shrek the Third, Mike Myers, Shrek the Third, Eddie Murphy, Shrek the Third, Jerry Seinfeld, Bee Movie   • Favorite Song:  "Beautiful Girls," Sean Kingston, "Big Girls Don't Cry," Fergie, "Don't Matter," Akon, "Girlfriend," Avril Lavigne   • Favorite Male Singer:  Bow Wow, Chris Brown, Soulja Boy, Justin Timberlake   • Favorite Female Singer:  Beyoncé, Fergie, Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys   • Favorite Music Group:  Boys Like Girls, Fall Out Boy, Jonas Brothers, Linkin Park   • Favorite Television Show:  Drake & Josh, Hannah Montana, iCarly, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody   • Favorite Television Actor:  Drake Bell, Drake & Josh, Josh Peck, Drake & Josh, Dylan Sprouse, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Cole Sprouse, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody   • Favorite Television Actress:  Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana, Emma Roberts, Unfabulous, Jamie Lynn Spears, Zoey 101, Raven-Symone, That's So Raven   • Favorite Cartoon:  Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ed, Edd and Eddy, The Simpsons, SpongeBob SquarePants   • Favorite Male Athlete:  Tony Hawk, Shaquille O'Neal, Alex Rodriguez, Tiger Woods   • Favorite Female Athlete:  Cheryl Ford, Danica Patrick, Serena Williams, Venus Williams   • Favorite Videogame:  Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, High School Musical: Sing It!, Madden NFL '08   • Favorite Book:  Buffy the Vampier Slayer Season Eight, Volume One: The Long Way Home, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter series, How to Eat Fried Worms

1 hour, 8 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Rookie rapper Flo Rida led the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for a seventh week Thursday, although R&B singers Chris Brown and Rihanna were mounting strong challenges.

If Flo Rida's "Low" is still No. 1 next week, it will be the longest-running chart-topper since Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" held sway for 10 weeks in 2006 and 2007.

Brown's "With You" rose one to No. 2, and Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music" jumped two to No. 3. Timbaland's "Apologize" featuring OneRepublic held at No. 4, while Alicia Keys' "No One" fell three to No. 5. Keys did, however, return to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart Wednesday with "As I Am."

Sara Bareilles' "Love Song" rebounded three to No. 6, Fergie's "Clumsy" slipped one to No. 7, and Snoop Dogg's "Sensual Seduction" remained at No. 8.

The biggest news in the top 10 was the No. 9 debut of French-born, Israeli-raised female pop singer Yael Naim's "New Soul," a song heard in the TV commercial for the latest Apple laptop, the ultra-thin MacBook Air. It is the chart's best entry since "What Time Is It" by High School Musical 2 Cast (No. 6) and Akon's "Sorry, Blame It on Me" (No. 7) bowed in the same week last August.

Sean Kingston's "Take You There" dropped three to No. 10 to round out the top tier of the Hot 100.

Reuters/Billboard

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer 30 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - Even before the release of her heralded “Back to Black” album last year, Amy Winehouse’s reputation as a tortured soul threatened to overshadow her music.

Her subsequent litany of debacles, culminating in the current rehab stint that will keep her from attending Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, only added to the notion that Winehouse was another Janis Joplin in the making. Yet throughout it all, Winehouse’s commercial and critical success has not suffered.

With the possible exception of R. Kelly, who’s notched hit after hit despite looming child pornography charges, Winehouse is the best example of how good music can sustain a troubled artist’s career. Drug and sex scandals may have doomed careers decades ago (a la Jerry Lee Lewis), but today even the most salacious charges don’t spell doom for talented artists.

“Music trumps everything else, and we want to be moved by music,” say industry executive Jody Gerson. “We are not so judgmental about the person if we love the music.”

Winehouse’s now-ironic hit “Rehab” rose on the charts even as reports of her drug use swirled; despite the almost daily chronicles of erratic behavior and a recent video of her smoking a crack pipe, Winehouse’s album stands at a respectable No. 40 on Billboard’s album chart.

Her retro disc was consistently heralded as one of the best albums of 2007. With a mix of humor and pathos, the singer-songwriter depicted her troubles with romance and alcohol through deft lyrics backed by soulful grooves.

Hit singer-songwriter Akon, who is up for four Grammys, told The Associated Press that celebrity troubles can actually help an artist in the long run.

“The more they go through, the more people can connect with them, because they start to realize that they aren’t perfect — ‘They’re just like me,’” so it really helps you sometimes,” said Akon, who maintained his popularity despite public relations crises of his own last year, including charges he threw a fan off a stage during a concert.

“Especially with Amy there’s a thousand teenage kids going through what she’s gong through right now, so they really can literally identify with her,” Akon said. “Music hits you in the soul.”

Winehouse, 24, goes into the Grammy ceremony with six nominations, including nods in the key categories of record, song, album of the year and best new artist. The CD has sold an impressive 1.5 million copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

“We try and let a music do the talking,” said Maurice Bernstein, the co-founder and CEO of Giant Step, which handled early marketing for the “Back to Black” U.S. release. “Although there’s been all this press going on, people are still buying her album, and I don’t think they are buying it because of the negative press — they’re buying it because they like the music.”

Powerful music also affords a glimpse into the personalities of musicians who often create hidden from public view — unlike actors, for example, who need to hide who they really are in order be effective on screen.

Though Michael Jackson was certainly tarnished, even he notched a No. 1 single and multiplatinum album after he was first accused of child molestation, in 1994 (he hasn’t released an album since his 2005 acquittal of child molestation charges).

The once white-hot Britney Spears — dubbed “An American Tragedy” this week by Rolling Stone magazine — also had a strong, if not spectacular debut of her latest album, “Blackout,” which sold more than 350,000 copies and had a No. 2 showing when it was released last fall. The first single, “Gimme More,” was also a top ten hit. Since then, however, the album has plummeted despite strong reviews. But that may lie more in Spears’ failure to promote the record, and her disastrous performance on MTV’s Video Music Awards a few weeks before the album’s release.

“Her record sales and her career would have taken such a different turn if that performance would have been her big comeback,” says Gerson, the co-president of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. “We like a comeback more than we like the disaster part.”

Whether Winehouse retains her popularity when she releases her second U.S. album depends on the strength of the new music, says Bernstein.

“She’s a great musician and it’s a great record,” he said. “The public has stayed loyal to this record because I think they were already into this record before a lot of the stuff hit the fan.”

Should that great music disappear, Winehouse’s career may evaporate as well.

“If she didn’t make a record that people loved,” Gerson said, “no one would care about her.”

Sarah Hall Thu Feb 7, 8:32 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - It seems that Cher's Farewell Tour represented less of a goodbye and more of a see you later.

The legendary singer-actress has confirmed long-gestating rumors that she will be headlining a song-and-dance spectacular at the Colosseum at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace, beginning May 6.

Under the terms of her deal with promoter AEG Live, she will perform approximately 200 shows over a three-year period, trading off shifts with Bette Midler, who begins her own stint at the Colosseum later this month.

"I started in Vegas at Caesars, so I've come full circle," the 61-year-old performer said in a statement. "I'm back and I plan to give my fans the best experience yet. I think everybody knows I only do things in a big way."

Beginning in May, Cher will perform four shows a week for a month, then will return in mid-August for concerts through October.

Her repertoire will include songs from the entire 44-year span of her career, from Sonny & Cher classics to her more recent pop oeuvres.

In addition to her vocals, the show will feature elaborate choreography, incoporating 14 dancers and four aerialists, as well as flashy costumes by Cher's designer of choice, Bob Mackie.

"The fan anticipation leading up to this announcement has been unprecedented," said John Meglen, co-CEO and president of AEG Live/Concerts West. "Cher's talent is legendary around the globe, and there is simply no one like her."

Over the course of her career, Cher has won an Oscar, an Emmy and a Grammy, as well as three Golden Globe awards. She has released more than 25 albums and sold over 100 million records worldwide.

Her Farewell Tour, which ran from 2002 to 2005, was the ninth-biggest grossing tour in history, ringing up $192.5 million in ticket sales for 273 shows, per Billboard.

Tickets to her latest endeavor went on sale Thursday, with prices starting at $95.

26 minutes ago

LAS VEGAS - She has released 25 albums that have sold more than 100 million copies and has enjoyed a career that has included concerts, recordings, Broadway, TV, film acting and directing, and books. Now she’s taking her show to Vegas.

Cher announced Thursday she’ll be one of the headline acts at Caesars Palace.

“I started in Vegas at Caesars, so I’ve come full circle,” she said. “I’m back, and I plan to give my fans the best experience yet. I think everybody knows I only do things in a big way.”

The Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award winner said in a statement that she will begin a three-year, 200-show engagement May 6.

“Cher’s name in one word encapsulates icon, award-winning legend, and captivating performer,” said Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner. “Caesars is pleased to welcome Cher back.”

“Cher at The Colosseum” is scheduled to include hit songs from her career of more than 40 years, with choreography, costumes and special effects. It is a partnership with AEG Live.

Cher will alternate performances at the 4,300-seat Colosseum with other headline acts Elton John and Bette Midler.

In December, Celine Dion ended a five-year run at the theater, which opened in 2002 as home of her show, “A New Day …”.

John, who began playing at the Colosseum in 2004 when Dion’s show was dark, is now booked to play his show, “The Red Piano,” through 2008. Midler’s “The Showgirl Must Go On” is set to open Feb. 20 for a two-year run of 100 shows per year.

Cher’s 90-minute show will feature choreography from Doriana Sanchez and lighting, special effects and costumes by Bob Mackie. Engagements will run four nights a week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Ticket prices are from $95 to $250.

By RAPHAEL G. SATTER, Associated Press Writer 42 minutes ago

LONDON - Amy Winehouse will not attend this year’s Grammy Awards because her request for a visa was denied, but she will perform by satellite at Sunday’s ceremony in Los Angeles.

Winehouse and her acclaimed “Back to Black” album are nominated for Grammys in six categories. She will perform material from the album, an executive close to the Grammys told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Thursday.

The Outside Organization, which counts the troubled retro-soul sensation among its clients, said in an e-mail that Winehouse — who shot to fame with the autobiographical single “Rehab” — was disappointed that her request for a visa had been turned down by the U.S. Embassy.

“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 and the State Department in Washington declined to comment late Thursday. Shane O’Neill, Winehouse’s spokesman, said he had nothing to add.

Los Angeles immigration lawyer Bernie Wolfsdorf called it surprising that Winehouse wasn’t able to obtain a visa. Although she has a marijuana arrest on her record that could be used for exclusion from the United States, Wolfsdorf said it is commonplace for entertainers to be granted a waiver for such an offense, particularly if they are just making a quick visit to appear at an awards show.

“I am going to say it appears to be an aberration at this time compared to the situation of many others. The list of British rock stars with pot convictions is longer than my arm,” said Wolfsdorf, vice president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

He said it is possible, however, that Winehouse’s drug transgressions were so recent that authorities are reluctant to grant her a visa until she demonstrates more fully that “she has moved toward the path of rehabilitation.”

Winehouse’s potent blend of blues, jazz, pop and soul has won praise from critics and fans, but her chaotic personal life has increasingly upstaged her music. Concerned family members regularly beg Winehouse to seek help in letters splashed across the pages of British tabloid newspapers and magazines.

Since the album’s U.S. release last year, she has canceled a slew of appearances amid reports of drug use. Her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, is accused of attacking a pub landlord and later conspiring with the landlord to have him withdraw as a witness at the trial.

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.

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Associated Press writer John Rogers in Los Angeles contributed to this story.

By AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press Writer 59 minutes ago

PHOENIX (AP) — It may be “Our Country,” but it’s John Mellencamp’s song. When the liberal rocker found out that Republican presidential hopeful John McCain was playing his songs at campaign events, his publicist wrote the campaign a letter explaining Mellencamp’s political leanings and that the singer/songwriter supported Democrat John Edwards for the presidency.

“Are you sure you want to use his music to promote Senator McCain’s efforts?” according to the letter, which was sent Monday. “Logic says that the facts might prove to be an embarrassment, were they to be circulated widely.”

Publicist Bob Merlis said Mellencamp told him that he was uncomfortable with the situation and couldn’t imagine that the senator wanted to be associated with him.

“You know, here’s a guy running around saying, ‘I’m a true conservative.’” Merlis said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Well, if you’re such a true conservative, why are you playing songs that have a very populist pro-labor message written by a guy who would find no argument if you characterized him as left of center?”

McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers in Washington, D.C., said Thursday that the songs would no longer be played. He declined to elaborate.

Mellencamp songs that had been played at McCain’s events included “Our Country” and “Pink Houses.”

In the first, Mellencamp sings, “There’s room enough here for science to live, and there’s room enough here for religion to forgive.” In the second, he sings about a simple man who “pays for the thrills, the bills and the pills that kill.”

Merlis said he hasn’t received a reply to his letter but said Thursday that the situation is “kind of funny” and that Mellencamp, who is on tour in Canada, saw the irony in it.

Kurt Davis, co-leader of McCain’s Arizona campaign, said he was not aware of the Mellencamp situation.

“I think it’s all kind of funny,” he said. “I think probably if people were looking for conservative rock bands, it’d be a pretty small number. Really, at the end of the day, what you’re doing at those events, you’ve got to keep people entertained while they’re waiting, and it has to be music that cuts across different generations.”

If it were up to Davis, he said he’d have gone with some Kansas songs or Chris Daughtry’s “Home” at McCain’s election night party Tuesday in Phoenix.

At the party, McCain walked onto the stage to the theme from “Rocky,” and Jon Bon Jovi’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” played as he left.

Bon Jovi is supporting Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

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On the Net:

John McCain: http://www.johnmccain.com/

John Mellencamp: http://www2.mellencamp.com/

By Sue Zeidler 47 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British soul singer Amy Winehouse's personal issues again derailed her career on Thursday as U.S. officials rejected her application for a visa, causing her to cancel plans to attend the Grammy awards.

The artist's label, Universal Music, and Grammy organizers were assembling a plan to have Winehouse perform via satellite at the top U.S. music awards being held in Los Angeles on Sunday, said a source close to the star.

While news of the visa rejection caught few by surprise due to the star's well-chronicled drug and legal issues, many called it unfortunate for Winehouse and the Grammys because the singer is among the most-nominated performers. Winehouse entered a rehab clinic last month for drug addiction.

"I think this is a first time a top contender for all of the top awards has been barred from attending. It's a tragic blow for her comeback," said Tom O'Neil, columnist for awards Web site Envelope.com.

Even with a beamed-in performance, Winehouse will not be shown on the red carpet or in the cutaway shots of the audience, which may underscore her absence.

"It could also be really embarrassing for the Grammys, if she sweeps the awards and she's not there," O'Neil said.

A spokesman for Winehouse, 24, said in a statement she had been progressing well since entering a rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago. "Although disappointed with the decision, (she) has accepted the ruling and will be concentrating on her recovery," the spokesman said.

SIX NODS, NO SHOW

Nominated for six Grammys, Winehouse is one of Britain's top artists, winning critical and commercial success with her album "Back to Black," which has sold nearly 5 million copies worldwide, including 1.3 million in the United States.

Winehouse will vie for best new artist and her tune "Rehab" was nominated for record and song of the year. "Back to Black" was nominated for best album of the year.

She is also one of four women vying for the title of best new artist, alongside Canadian singer-songwriter Feist, country singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, and R&B singer Ledisi. Also nominated were the female-fronted rock band Paramore.

Winehouse ranked second in Grammy nominations to rapper Kanye West.

With her career overshadowed by drug and alcohol problems, music industry experts had hoped a performance by the beehive-coiffed singer at the Grammys would boost her standing with U.S. audiences.

But many believe Winehouse's talent already has swayed many of the 12,000 music industry professionals who vote on the Grammys. "It's not like a political vote. Voters make their decisions on music and quality, not personal habits or character," said Jay Cooper, an entertainment lawyer.

Winehouse previously canceled a U.S. visit in November due to visa issues. Her involvement in the Grammys had been in doubt for months due to her arrest for possession of marijuana in Norway last year. She also appeared in video footage last month allegedly showing her smoking crack cocaine.

Winehouse attended rehab clinics at least twice in 2007, according to British media, but checked out on both occasions before her treatment was completed.

Other British music acts have faced visa issues, including singer-songwriter Lily Allen. In the 1970s, the Sex Pistols delayed a tour after U.S. authorities were reluctant to issue visas, and the Klaxons had to cancel tour dates in 2006.

(Additional reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Peter Cooney)

2 hours, 49 minutes ago

LONDON (Reuters) - Amy Winehouse, who entered a rehab clinic last month for drug addiction, will not perform as planned at this year's Grammy awards ceremony after the U.S. embassy in London rejected her visa application.

A spokesman said in a statement on Thursday the 24-year-old had been "progressing well since entering a rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago.

"Although disappointed with the decision, (she) has accepted the ruling and will be concentrating on her recovery.

"Amy has been treated well and fairly by the (U.S.) embassy staff, and thanks everyone for their support in trying to make this happen. There will of course be other opportunities and she very much looks forward to visiting America in the near future."

Winehouse has been nominated for six Grammy awards ahead of the prize ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday.

She is one of Britain's top-selling artists, winning critical and commercial success with her album "Back to Black" which has sold nearly five million copies worldwide, including 1.3 million in the key United States market.

But Winehouse's involvement in the Grammys ceremony has been in doubt for months because of her arrest for possession of marijuana in Norway last year.

The singer denies having anything to do with the marijuana and said she unwittingly signed a document accepting a fine.

She also appeared in video footage last month that allegedly showed her smoking crack cocaine.

Winehouse attended rehab clinics at least twice in 2007, according to media, but checked out on both occasions before her treatment was completed.

(Editing by Michael Winfrey)