No Grammy Visa for Amy Winehouse

After much speculation on the subject, British singer Amy Winehouse lost all hopes of performing at this years Grammy Awards in the States, because her application for a U.S. visa was denied. But instead maybe there's a chance she will perform by satellite at Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles.

According to the Sun newspaper, Amy Winehouse has been banned from America after failing a drug test:

"The singer applied for a visa to attend Sunday’s Grammys bash - but was denied as officials found traces of an un-named illegal drug in her blood following the test at the US Embassy in central London.

A spokesman said she accepts the ban.

But a pal said she was 'desperate' to perform at the Los Angeles bash - where she is up for six awards - adding: "It was her main incentive to get clean. It’s a blow."

According to MTV news, Winehouse's U.S. rep said that the "wheels are in motion" for the singer to appear at the Grammy's via satellite, but nothing's been confirmed yet.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Amy will write and perform the theme song for the new Bond film, if she stays clean for two months.

An insider on latest 007 instalment 'Quantum of Solace' said: "In April the Bond people will make a decision on an artist and if Amy is clean them, it's hers."

Amy's invited to live with Ozzy Osbourne

Amy Winehouse definitely will have a bigger chance of staying clean, if she can get away from her previous environment for a while longer and meanwhile work on getting stronger, psychologically and physically. Kelly Osbourne, famous rocker Ozzy Osbourne's daughter and one of Amy's close friends, has reportedly invited the young singer to stay with them after she leaves rehab. Amy Winehouse is invited to stay in a guest cottage at the family's Buckinghamshire mansion when she leaves rehab.

A source said: "The cottage is perfect. And there will be no temptations like there are in London. Also, the security around the house is already tight after a spate of break-ins so there is no chance of anyone being able to follow her."

Pregnant Angelina Jolie Visits Iraq on Goodwill Mission

Angelina Jolie, who is widely rumoured to be pregnant with twins, has visited the U.S. troops in Iraq as part of her role as a UN goodwill ambassador.

Angelina Jolie, accompanied the U.S State Department on the trip to learn about the plight of 4 million displaced Iraqis.

Of her mission, Angelina has said: "What happens in Iraq and how Iraq settles in the years to come is going to affect the entire Middle East.

"It's in our best interest to address a humanitarian crisis on this scale because displacement can lead to a lot of instability and aggression."

During her trip Jolie dined with U.S troops stationed within the Green Zone, met General David Petraeus, the top U.S commander in the country, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Iraqi migration officials.

The visit comes amid reports Angelina and Brad have increased security at their LA home after daughter Shiloh was targeted by kidnappers, it was claimed today.

According to a US report, a chilling note was left at the door of one of the superstar couple's houses.

It included a photo of the 20-month-old tot - alongside the warning: "We got this close already." An insider said: "They're freaked out.

Britney Spears Released From Psychiatric Ward

Troubled singer Britney Spears was last night (wednesday) released from a psychiatric ward after just a week of treatment.

The decision to discharge Spears came after “UCLA doctors determined Britney did not pose the legal danger to herself or to others, such that they could continue to hold her against her will.”

Britney, 26, left the UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles and jumped straight in her Mercedes and drove to a hotel.

According to press reports, the Gimme More singer was able to sneak out of the hospital without much fanfare. Amazingly, most of the waiting press missed her dramatic exit as she snuck out an unwatched door.

But her car was soon spotted by a helicopter crew - and a few minutes later when she stopped at the Beverley Hills Hotel a huge crowd had assembled.

Heath Ledger's Death: Accidental Overdose

Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs that included painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication, the New York City medical examiner said today.

"Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine," medical examiner's spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said in a news release.

The drugs are the generic names for the OxyContin painkiller, the anti-anxiety drug Valium, Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug, and the sleep aids Restoril and Unisom. Hydrocodone is another name for ibuprofen.

The statement continued: "We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications."

Ledger, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Brokeback Mountain," died in his New York City apartment Jan. 22. He was 28.

Amy Winehouse Questioned By Police Over "Crack" Video

Singer Amy Winehouse was questioned today in connection with a video which allegedly showed her smoking crack cocaine.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said officers from Tower Hamlets had interviewed a 24-year-old woman in connection with an allegation of unlawful possession of a controlled drug.

He said she was not arrested, but was interviewed under caution and inquiries were continuing.

Last month, footage obtained by the Sun newspaper appeared to show Winehouse inhaling fumes from a crack pipe after an apparent 19-minute drugs binge in which she snorted ecstasy and cocaine and admitted to downing six Valium.

The disturbing images were said to have been filmed during a party at Winehouse’s east London home, hours before she attended a court hearing for husband Blake Fielder-Civil.

He is awaiting trial on charges of assault and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Amy Winehouse entered rehab for drug addiction just a few days after the video was released online.

*Source: Ireland On-Line

Apparently, Rehab Was Mainly to Secure a US Visa

Singer Amy Winehouse has taken a break from rehab yesterday reportedly to go and apply for a US visa. Just the day before, her father Mitch Winehouse was firmly stating that he didn't think she was ready to go to the Grammy's

According to the press reports, The Back To Black star left her London rehab clinic for a few hours to meet officials at the US Embassy. The BBC news states that, Amy had met US embassy officials just to discuss obtaining a visa, not to apply for a visa:

Winehouse, who checked into rehab at the Capio Nightingale clinic in north London last month, was accompanied by her father Mitch and a nurse. The 24-year-old is due to perform at the Grammy ceremony, where she is nominated for six awards, in Los Angeles on Sunday.

But her spokesman said "no decision" had been made about the appearance. "The appointment at the US Embassy was made some time ago and was part of process for obtaining a visa," he said. "Amy was accompanied by a nurse as the appointment was under supervision. She has not left rehab and remains under the care of the clinic."

This was yesterday, but the day before that, Amy's father Mitch Winehouse was saying this: "I'm not sure the Grammys are going to happen. I don't want her to go, it might be a bit too soon for her. She's not well - that's why she's in rehab."

What happened in one day, of course I don't know and when a singer nominated for 6 Grammy's is the subject, I guess many more forces other than her parents will be involved in the decision-making process. But I just hope Amy Winehouse's father (who looks like a reasonable man) sticks to his words and does all he can to make sure his daughter gets the best, required therapy.

The Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place on 10 February in the U.S. Amy Winehouse is up for six Grammys, including record and album of the year and best new artist. Winehouse's visa application is complicated by her arrest in Norway last November for marijuana possession.
As far as I remember, news sites stated that the U.S. visa would be granted only if Amy was tested and found drug-free.

Picture source: SplashNewsOnline.com- Amy Winehouse coming out of rehab to go the U.S. Embassy.

Britney Spears' Parents: 1, Osama Lütfi: 0

It looks like Britney Spears' turbulent life even got worser after her loving parents Lynne and Jamie came to help her. From my wicked point of view, Britney Spears' parents came to intervene, not to the recent traumatic life their daughter was living, but to the ongoing feud between paparazzi boyfriend Adnan and manager Osama Lütfi for the control of Britney & her assets. As we have all learned yesterday, Britney Spears means big money for everyone (except us, of course, we are the big spenders in this equation). According to the Portfolio magazine, Britney Spears contributes $120 million to the U.S. economy annually. And right now, according to PerezHilton.com we learn that Britney Spears' interventionist parents have got a restraining order against Osama Lütfi:

"While the mentally unstable Spears continues to recuperate at the UCLA psych ward, her parents sought an emergency court hearing - and won.

Jamie Spears and a lawyer have been named conservators of Britney's estate. What they say goes.

Osama Lutfi is out of the picture. Legally! Britney's parents got a restraining order against him and he can not get anywhere near Spears.

Popps Jamie and the attorney have temporary power over Spears's finances, in addition to securing her residence, changing its locks, and vacating any persons living there. They also are allowed to restrict and limit visitors to Britney, as well as employ security guards to protect her."

All these are happening, while Britney is reportedly calling Adnan's name in her sleep under heavy sedatives.

She was rushed to UCLA Medical Center from her Hollywood home after she turned 'psychotic' following a three-day sleepless binge on Adderall, Red Bull and stimulant laxatives.

Britney has been locked in a high-risk ward and classified as 'gravely disabled', which means she has to get help washing and eating.

Nobody will ask me of course, yet I still want to stress that I don't believe Britney's got any serious mental disorder. Just cut the combo drug binges plus alcohol and instead let her get some deep sleep and good rest. The drugs she's been reportedly taking are enough to alter one's perceptions even one by one, just try to think of the effects of all of them taken together. But of course a normal Britney Spears wouldn't be getting the tremendous media attention she's been getting lately and thats another ($120 million) story.