Winehouse Mom Applauds; Natalie Cole Boos Awards
Winehouse Still Being Treated as Outpatient
Feb. 12, 2008 —
Amy Winehouse's mom believes the tattooed, rehabbed and now Grammy-winning singer is "on the way back."
Janis Winehouse proudly points to her daughter's show-stealing performance at the Grammys this weekend as proof.
"Well, as you saw, she looks good and it's a case of she's on the road — and that's what it's about — she's on the road to recovery," Janis Winehouse told Britain's GMTV.
Sunday's Grammy performance was Winehouse's debut since being released from a London rehabilitation clinic for substance abuse.
Winehouse, 24, coyly sang her hit "Rehab" when she appeared on the Grammys by satellite and looked to be amazed to win five of the music industry's top awards.
"Well, it's Amy coming back, she's definitely on the way back," her mom said of the woman most British fans know by the nickname "Wino" for her whacked-out antics.
Well, not all the way back.
"She is an outpatient and she is under medical supervision and the treatment continues," said Chris Goodman of Winehouse's public relations firm, the Outside Organization. He declined to elaborate. He also said it was too early to confirm a rumored performance at the Brit Awards Feb. 20.
Not everyone applauded Winehouse's Grammy triumph, however.
Natalie Cole, who has battled substance abuse problems, told People magazine, "I don't think she should have won. I think it sends a bad message to our young people who are trying to get into this business, the ones who are trying to do it right and really trying to keep themselves together. We have to stop rewarding bad behavior."
"I'm sorry. I think the girl is talented, gifted, but it's not right for her to be able to have her cake and eat it too," the 58-year-old singer and daughter of Nat King Cole said.
"The girl really has a problem, and I think for those of us who have been in the business long enough, we know the sacrifice it takes," Cole said. "This is about discipline and hard work, and you don't get to just do your drugs and go on stage and get rewarded."
Cole thought Rihanna or Beyonce were more deserving of a Grammy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report