Soul singer mourned
July 23, 2011
Troubled singer Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment on Saturday.
Winehouse, who is best known for songs like "Rehab," had struggled with drink and drug addictions throughout her career.
The 27-year-old British singer was found by emergency services after they were called to her apartment on Saturday afternoon.
A spokeswoman for the London Ambulance Service told reporters that she was declared dead at the scene. Her death is being treated as "unexplained."
Her record label Universal issued a statement later on Saturday confirming her death.
"We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer," the statement read. "Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans at this difficult time."
As news broke of the singers death on social networking site Twitter, tributes immediately poured in from fellow celebrities including singer-actress Kelly Osbourne, television presenter Piers Morgan and Sarah Brown, wife of former British prime minister Gordon Brown.
Spectacular rise to fame
The soul singer shot to fame after winning five Grammy awards for her 2006 second album "Back to Black."
In the run-up to her live European comeback tour she spent a week at an addiction treatment clinic in London.
Last month she was forced to cancel all her tour dates and engagements following a series of erratic public appearances.
Author: Charlotte Chelsom-Pill (dpa, AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Ben Knight