Amy Winehouse in London.Photo: Ben Dome/Pacific Coast News
The rise and fall ofAmy Winehousehappened so quickly.
However, she grappled with addiction, entering rehab and canceling a planned 2011 tour.
She died at just 27 years oldin July of 2011,from accidental alcohol poisoning.
“Amy was a girl in her 20s suffering from addiction, and everybody was a part of it. Everybody was watching it. When you go to rehab, you have to be the strongest you’ve ever been in your life, when you are the weakest you’ve ever been in your life. And she had to go through that in front of people,” Winehouse’s best friend Tyler James toldThe Timesin 2021.
In the years since her death, fans have continued to celebrate her music and her family has honored her legacy witha new biography about the singer,Amy Winehouse: In Her Words,which features never-before-seen photos and notes from the late star.
Here, on what would have been her 40th birthday on Sept. 14, 2023, remember her life in photos.
01of 11Tiny DancerA young Amy Winehouse.Rex USAStepping into the ballet flats that would later become her trademark, a 5-year-oldAmy Winehouseposed in her ballerina finest as a child. But her aspirations weren’t to take the stage: wee Winehouse wanted to be a roller-skating waitress.
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Tiny Dancer
A young Amy Winehouse.Rex USA
Stepping into the ballet flats that would later become her trademark, a 5-year-oldAmy Winehouseposed in her ballerina finest as a child. But her aspirations weren’t to take the stage: wee Winehouse wanted to be a roller-skating waitress.
02of 11School DaysAmy Winehouse at age 8.Rex USAWinehouse, at age 8, smiled for a school photo. “She was always very self-willed,” her father, Mitch, once recalled. “Not badly behaved but … different.”
02of 11
School Days
Amy Winehouse at age 8.Rex USA
Winehouse, at age 8, smiled for a school photo. “She was always very self-willed,” her father, Mitch, once recalled. “Not badly behaved but … different.”
03of 11Guitar HeroAmy Winehouse in 2004.Rex USAOne year after her critically acclaimed 2003 debut album,Frank, hits stores, Winehouse took the stage at a Birmingham, England, HMV to promote the bluesy disc.
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Guitar Hero
Amy Winehouse in 2004.Rex USA
One year after her critically acclaimed 2003 debut album,Frank, hits stores, Winehouse took the stage at a Birmingham, England, HMV to promote the bluesy disc.
04of 11Shining StarAmy Winehouse in 2004.Dave Benett/GettyThe accolades started pouring in for Winehouse in 2004, and she won a prestigious Ivor Novello Award, which recognizes outstanding songwriters. She became part of an exclusive club that includes past winnersJohn Lennon,Sir Elton JohnandDavid Bowie.
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Shining Star
Amy Winehouse in 2004.Dave Benett/Getty
The accolades started pouring in for Winehouse in 2004, and she won a prestigious Ivor Novello Award, which recognizes outstanding songwriters. She became part of an exclusive club that includes past winnersJohn Lennon,Sir Elton JohnandDavid Bowie.
05of 11Fabulous FriendAmy Winehouse and Kelly Osbourne.Rodrigo Marques/Splash News OnlineA giddy Winehouse enjoyed a girls' night out in L.A. with fellow BritKelly Osbournein 2007. “I cant even breath[e] right my now im crying so hard i just lost 1 of my best friends,” Osbourne Tweeted after Winehouse died in July 2011. “I love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!”
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Fabulous Friend
Amy Winehouse and Kelly Osbourne.Rodrigo Marques/Splash News Online
A giddy Winehouse enjoyed a girls' night out in L.A. with fellow BritKelly Osbournein 2007. “I cant even breath[e] right my now im crying so hard i just lost 1 of my best friends,” Osbourne Tweeted after Winehouse died in July 2011. “I love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!”
06of 11
Power Couple
Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse.JMEnternational/Redferns/Getty
07of 11A Big NightAmy Winehouse at the Grammy Awards.Richard Young/StartraksAn emotional Winehouse embraced her mother, Janis, after sweeping the 2008 Grammy Awards.“For London! This is for London!” Winehouse cheered, keeping her arm around her mom for her entire acceptance speech.
07of 11
A Big Night
Amy Winehouse at the Grammy Awards.Richard Young/Startraks
An emotional Winehouse embraced her mother, Janis, after sweeping the 2008 Grammy Awards.“For London! This is for London!” Winehouse cheered, keeping her arm around her mom for her entire acceptance speech.
08of 11All That RazzAmy Winehouse in 2008.Ben Dome/Pacific Coast NewsThe cheeky singer mugged for the camera with a throng of admiring fans in London in 2008.
08of 11
All That Razz
Amy Winehouse in 2008.Ben Dome/Pacific Coast News
The cheeky singer mugged for the camera with a throng of admiring fans in London in 2008.
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Proud Moment
Amy Winehouse and goddaughter Dionne Bromfield.Xposure
10of 11The VoiceAmy Winehouse in 2010.Samir Hussein/GettyIn October of 2010, Winehouse gave an impromptu – and stellar – performance at a 150-capacity club in London, singing her hit “Tears Dry on Their Own” as well as some new material. “Amy just whispered to me, ‘I know I’m not on the lineup, but do you mind if I play?'” club manager Izzy Lawrencetold the BBC. “Obviously I wasn’t going to say no, and she got up and played and it was amazing.” Of the new tunes, Lawrence added, “If those songs are going to be on the new album, it’s going to be huge.”
10of 11
The Voice
Amy Winehouse in 2010.Samir Hussein/Getty
In October of 2010, Winehouse gave an impromptu – and stellar – performance at a 150-capacity club in London, singing her hit “Tears Dry on Their Own” as well as some new material. “Amy just whispered to me, ‘I know I’m not on the lineup, but do you mind if I play?'” club manager Izzy Lawrencetold the BBC. “Obviously I wasn’t going to say no, and she got up and played and it was amazing.” Of the new tunes, Lawrence added, “If those songs are going to be on the new album, it’s going to be huge.”
11of 11
Remembering Amy
Dave Hogan/Getty
Despite the talent and accolades, Winehouse’s later years were filled with substance abuse struggles and an on-again, off-again relationship with equally troubledBlake Fielder-Civil.On July 23, 2011, she was found dead at home in London; the coroner deteremined her cause of death was the “unintended consequence” of drinking too much alcohol.
Winehouse was an “intelligent, determined young woman who, at times, was able to successful abstain from alcohol,” the coroner said while announcing the cause of death as “alcohol toxicity.”
source: people.com
