Natalie's comments, although they sound well intended, are just masking her own insecurity. She is a total has-been and former druggie --and I guarantee you, her upcoming jazz release is going to be a flop. She is completely transparent.

I am a 56 yr old who is not awed by each and every musical talent (so called) that comes along these days. That being said, Amy Winehouse is one talented woman. She is not only retro-soul, her sounds combine R&B, blues, jazz (can you say Billie Holiday?). Her personal life is too stupid for words, but the Grammy's are not given based on that, are they? If they were NO ONE would win anything 'cuz practically everyone in that business does something. If I had one negative thing to say about her awards it would be that 'Rehab' did not deserve it...'Back to Black' did. And about her Grammy performance...the sound was AWFUL! Ms Cole's so-called career is based on her dad's very talented career...her voice is so-so. And if what she said is true...then Tony Bennett should never have gotten any awards either because he also did drugs back in the day, and he admitted to it publically. Yet who in their right mind would argue against him winning anything? He is FAB! Congrats to Amy...here's hoping you get it together, 'cuz dead talent is a waste.

I AM HAPPY FOR AMY FOR BEATING THOSE OVERRATED 2 STRIPPERS CALLED BEYONCE AND RIHANNA, AT LEAST BEY CAN SING BUT HER MUSIC IS NOTHING SPECIAL, AS FOR RIHANNA NO COMMENT BECAUSE GIRLFRIEND IS SO NOT TALENTED. NATALIE MUST KNOW THAT THE GRAMMYS RECOGNISES GREAT TIMELESS MUSIC NOT THAT RUBBISH UNBRELLA SONG WITH STUPID LYRICS. MY DREAM COLLABORATION AMY AND LAURYN HILL, I MISS LAURYN SO BADLY

Margaret; calling Amy multitalented is absurd; her performance at the grammys was awful. As much as I am not a fan I am happy for her grammys since I would choose her over Beyonce, Rihanna, and Fergie etc. Comparing Amy to Lauryn Hill sounds pretty stupid because the hype about Lauryn Hill was based on the fact that she is great actress, singer, and sophisticated/prolific rapper, great song writer, intelligent, inspirational, articulate, informed, socially and politically conscious. To top it all her lyrics were intellectually done and even though she is not a producer she was involved in creating her work with the Fugees and on the Miseducation. Amy is good but she is nowhere near Lauryn Hill. Still to this day there is no female artist (black and white) that can be compared to Lauryn including that overrated Alicia Keys. As for you "already know" she is racist? Feel free to cite the insurmountable evidence you used in "knowing" so. Oh, what's that you say? Your cousin's hairdresser's cross-dressing chimpanzee isn't as reliable as you thought. Maybe it would be wiser not to adamantly accept hearsay in the face of logically sound proof that's straight from the horse's mouth. I never even knew she has a high mighty attitude; I think you are the one with the problem and this is pathetic to even assume these things when you don't know her personally.

I cannot believe that there are people who are still obsessed with that lousy racist rumour is this some kind of a joke or something. Margaret whoever you are your education system has miserably failed you; there is a difference btw reality and fiction. Lauryn Hill is a politically conscious artist and intelligent as hell. Being righteous has got nothing to do with ego I don’t even think she considers herself better or holy than anyone, Lauryn is a black woman who embraces her race and culture, glamorises God in an industry characterised by racism, uneducated, unholy and phoney people who do not know who they are. She is not Beyonce or Rihanna those 2 fake bimbos (who are worshipped by Natalie Cole) who glamorises sex and money. To me Lauryn Hill is continuing the legacy that was started by people like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Bob Marley etc through her music, and calling her a racist is just out of order. As to how people have missed the interviews where she refuted these rumours many years ago is still a mystery to me

Margaret what Rolling Stones interview? You are so pathetic and idiotic, that was a rumour if you go to google there is an interview that took place in 1996 where Howard Stern interviews Lauryn Hill about those racist malicious rumours. The guy who started those rumours on the Howard Stern show was even called it and he even talked to Lauryn and Howard Stern was even pissed off with that guy because he claimed that he saw Lauryn saying those things on MTV, but when he spoke to Lauryn he changed the story and said somebody saw Lauryn not him. Howard Stern even mentioned that Lauryn Hill’s manager at that time was a white guy. MTV was even consulted about this they also refuted these rumours and said such an interview never took place, and still to this day there is no tape or video recorded on those stupid rumours. For crying out loud how can Lauryn be racist when she grew up in a middle class white Jewish suburb, and by the way she went to predominantly white schools and to top it all she is childhood friends with Zach Braff from Scrubs, they grew up in the same neighbourhood and went to the same high school. Did you know that Amy Winehouse and Joss Stones have declared that Lauryn Hill is their Idol; do you know that Rocker Connor Orbest have declared that Lauryn is his favourite artist, do you know that she has worked with white musicians since she started in the industry? Please do research because you look foolish by stating nonsensical info that was created by people who are intimidated by intelligent and educated black people.

As a former drug abuser myself, I agree Amy should not be put in the spot light yet despite her talent. To recover you have to stop and take care of that first. Makes you wonder if the industry and people close to her really have her best interest at heart.

I guess they should revoke Natalie Cole's Grammy then, since her kid almost drowned while she was on a drug binge. I'd say that's a bad example for our youth. Furthermore a Grammy isn't a person of the year award, it's based on music. I guess we should revoke Grammy's from Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston and every other great that wasn't perfect. Natalie Cole should get over herself.

Give me a break- Amy Winehouse is a power house talent- and as so far as Natalie Cole: She thought only that 2 other black females should have gotten it- hmmmm pretty funny-

I dont judge- I listen to the music ....and whoever said she is not original is nuts-- sorry-
Lastly I see no comparsion whatsoever bewteen Amy Winehouse and Ms Lauryn Hill- who as I recall, prefered to not have white people buy her music- I never forgot her Rolling Stones interview- and I never bought her music again- and quite honestly felt her higher then mighty attitude was far worse than an Amy Winehouse any day of the week-
It is that sort of behavior that teaches the upcoming talent how to behave- oh pleeeze- that is why we have all these young kids thinking they need their butts kissed-

I dont recall Amy Winehouse asking us to treat her special- just let her sing- God willing she not us- will cure what ails her-

Amy Winehouse might be a mess but she is multi-talented- and I'm not looking for a role model- just great music -
Nowadays every artist sounds the same- and none of them can even sing- so lets not kick the recent talent of someone who can carry a note!!!!

Margaret G,
St Paul Mn

popo, that comparison of awards is the most ridiculous thing I have heard.

Grammys=musical achievement.

Did Amy not achieve anything musically? The voters thought she did.

...

I miss Lauren Hill too. :(

this is for 635 am lerato..........um amy whinehouse did take of her clothes, she was running around in her bra & jeans nothing else because she was do damn high on drugs that she didnt know what the hell she was doing........she might not have done it for exposure but US magazine got a picture of it incase you missed it. just FYI!!!!

I am not a fan of Amy Winehouse, but I am happy for her achievements at the grammys. Despite the fact that she is not a good role model and that her music is not original, she is far much better than what Beyonce and Rihanna would ever produce artistically. As a young black woman I am very disappointed with Natalie Coleman for thinking that Beyonce and Rihanna deserved those grammys, when everything they represent as artists is just bogus, neither will I consider them role models. Since when shaking booty and being overexposed defines great talent? I am really tired of these girls who get away with everything because they are pretty we really need great young artists. Beyonce can sing but who respects her as a person because as far as I remember she is half naked 99% of the time. As for Rihanna she is too overexposed but has no talent period, and she is even not selling records and there is no one single article that talks about her talent, when you read about her it is always her new hairstyle, outfits or which white boy she is sleeping with. Besides Amy’s troubles we must embrace her for not taking off her clothes to be recognised. No one is denying Beyonce and Rihanna‘s hard work but as far as I remember the grammys should recognise real talent and distinct artists, not overexposed bimbos who think taking off clothes and going to all Hollywood events would guarantee success.

Amy Winehouse is a bad role model period, but we cannot deny her talent and somehow she reminds people of Lauryn Hill obviously her voice nothing else and she is overrated at times and her performance at the Grammys was terrible. Her album is one of the decent albums released in 2006/7 no doubt about it. Natalie Cole needs a whip for using Beyonce and Rihanna as examples; those two girls are not representing young black girls very well. Still to this day I am yet to see a young black female artist that resembles Lauryn Hill’s qualities. Despite the fact that Lauryn Hill has disappeared from the face of the earth, she made music history by becoming the first female artist to win 5 grammys in one night, and she was such a non-conformist and we loved her for not taking off her clothes to sell records. She embraced her race and heritage in an industry that is characterised by racism and to me that is powerful.

She also set a precedence of how we should define black beauty and talent (she was inspirational, intelligent, politically and socially conscious), and none of these black girls that came after her resembles what she represented. Natalie needs to do her homework she cannot make a reference to those two overexposed strippers. For crying out loud Rihanna is the most manufactured vapid artist in the last three years, whereas Beyonce's music is not timeless and she is just a glorified stripper that happens to sing well. But coming to think of it if Amy Winehouse was black i wonder if she would have received all those grammys, considering that the media keeps on embracing these uncultured Hollywood white young stars e.g. Britney, Linsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and the list goes on.

Natalie Cole should not cast stones being in the same position not too long ago herself. Just because Amy is an addict does not mean she is less deserving or hard working, it takes great dedication and hard work to get where she is and Natalie should know this. I am neither an Amy fan nor a Natalie fan but I think a public apology is warranted here. There are a lot worse role models in music today then Amy for especially some of the gangster rappers and the violent lyrics they influence our generation with.

I hope that everyone sends a similar message to Natalie because I don’t think she should be allowed to get away with bashing Amy or at the matter anyone. She should be totally ashamed of herself and I am sure her father (May he rest in peace) would not condone these comments at all.

Shame on you Natalie!

YUP.....I agree with nikki. Then we should take back Ms. Coles' grammy and all the ones awarded going back to the Beattles. And then lets not support any of the movie bio's like Billy Holiday's and the live shows like the one Whitney Houston did with Bobby Brown. EVERYONE in the entertainment business is high or drunk or something so Ms. Cole who obviously lives in a glass house, you shouldn't throw stones!!!