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LONDON - Soul singer Amy Winehouse, who this week appeared in video footage allegedly showing her smoking crack cocaine, has entered a rehab clinic, her record company said.
The troubled 24-year-old, who has been dogged by frequent suggestions of drug taking in recent months, also cancelled a scheduled performance at an awards ceremony in France this Saturday, record company Universal Music Group said.
"Amy Winehouse's planned appearance at the NRJ Awards in France on Saturday has been cancelled as the artist has entered a rehabilitation clinic," the company said in a statement.
"Amy decided to enter the facility today after talks with her record label, management, family and doctors.
"She has come to understand that she requires specialist treatment to continue her ongoing recovery from drug addiction and prepare for her planned appearance at the Grammy Awards."
Winehouse is one of the country's top-selling singers, winning critical and commercial success with her album "Back to Black", which garnered six Grammy nominations in December.
The 2006 album has sold nearly five million copies worldwide, including 1.3 million in the United States.
The Grammy awards take place in the United States on February 10, but Winehouse's involvement has been in doubt because of her arrest for possession of marijuana in Norway last year.
Winehouse, summoned to appear in a Norwegian court on February 29, has denied having anything to do with the marijuana and said she unwittingly signed a document accepting a fine.
Police also plan to investigate the video of Winehouse allegedly smoking crack cocaine which first appeared in the Sun this week.
The footage was taken early on Friday morning. Hours later a dishevelled-looking Winehouse appeared in court to support husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who is fighting charges related to a pub brawl.
Universal called her "the most talented and important musical artist of her generation" who had already "made huge strides on her road to recovery".
One of her most famous songs is called "Rehab", which opens with the lyrics: "They tried to make me go to rehab, I said 'no, no, no'."
She attended rehab clinics at least twice in 2007, according to media, but checked out on both occasions before her treatment was completed.
- REUTERS
