Born September 14, 1983 in Camden, London in the U.K., singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse has garnered just as much—if not more—publicity and international fame and recognition for her upside-down, all-over-the-place personal life (in addition to her trademark beehive-styled long black mane, thick, dark eye makeup, and tattoos of naked pin-up girls) as she has for her critically acclaimed music in the jazz, soul, and R&B flavors.

Amy Jade Winehouse grew up listening to, being surrounded by, and learning to play jazz music, receiving her first guitar when she was 13 years old. Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra were just two among her many musical influences. Amy's maternal uncles were professional jazz musicians, and her paternal grandma was romantically linked to Ronnie Scott. As a teen and young adult Amy attended Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone (but only briefly), after which she went to Surrey’s Brit School along with singer Katie Melua.

In 2003, when she was nearing only 20 years of age, Winehouse released Frank, her debut and breakthrough album that went platinum, with Island Records, under Simon Fuller’s 19 Management company. Frank spawned a number of comparisons to such artists as Lauryn Hill, Billie Holiday, Macy Gray, Sarah Vaughan, and even Christina Aguilera, among others. Winehouse’s follow-up album, Back to Black, released in 2006 and impressively hit the number-one spot on the U.K. Albums Chart that same year.

Her critically acclaimed music has earned this young Brit musician a number of award nods, including nominations for two Brit Awards in 2003 and a Mercury Music Award in 2004, and her first Brit Award win for “Best British Female” artist in 2007. She has also twice won the coveted Ivor Novello Award: in 2004 for “Stronger Than Me” and in 2007 for “Rehab.” In 2007 she was also nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards for Back to Black.

Any acting in the future for this talented young star? Thankfully, no. In late November 2006, Winehouse had the grace to publicly admit that while she had been selected to sing the main theme song for the upcoming Bond 22, the sequel to Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig, she is not the Bond Girl and that she’s “just not an actress.” Finally—a celebrity musician who doesn’t feel the need to unsuccessfully or laughably “branch out” into acting!

As is the case with most celebrities, however, Winehouse has gained the most attention for her reported excessive and rowdy behavior, various controversies, and alcoholism and drug abuse. But that’s to be expected—after all, the biography of a musician without some kind of scandal attached is just…let’s face it, boring, no matter how talented or successful they are. After a media frenzy of reports of Winehouse’s alcohol abuse, her management recommended she attend rehab—Winehouse refused, dumped the company, and used the incident to pen her Ivor Novello Award-winning single “Rehab.”

Winehouse also gained public attention after dropping four dress sizes in September 2006 after comments proliferated about her size: Winehouse maintained she didn’t lose weight because of these alleged comments, but admitted she had struggled with bulimia and anorexia as well as manic depression.

Then, TMZ.com reported in mid-August 2007 that Winehouse and her hubby, Blake Fielder-Civil, with whom she tied the knot on May 18 that year, agreed to rehab for their addictions to cocaine and heroin after reports of Winehouse’s reckless public behavior in drug overdosing (one time with Babyshambles’ Pete Doherty, Kate Moss’ creepy on-again, off-again lover) and intense physical fights with each other, resulting in cuts, scars, bruises, and bleeding. And now Winehouse has publicly stated she wants to get pregnant so she and Blake can “put their troubles behind them.” What a great reason to have a kid, and what a great role-model for young girls!

Winehouse counts Billie Holiday, Cassandra Wilson, and Mary J Blige among her musical influences. And her drug and alcoholic influences? Perhaps Pete Doherty and David Hasselhoff, and maybe the likes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or Britney Spears could learn a thing or two.

The Grammy awards, held in Los Angeles in 2008, saw Amy making a televised performance live from the UK as she was unable to attend the event due to a problem with her securing a visa for entry to the USA following her drug related arrest in Holland. However, this didn't detract from the 5 Grammy awards that Winehosue secured for record of the year, best new artist, best song of the year, best pop vocal album for Back to Black and best female pop vocal.

Since then Amy attended rehab for eleven days after which she was released. At her court appearance at the end of February 2008, relating to her arrest along with husband Blake in Holland, Amy fortunately had the charges dropped and walked away a free woman. Blake remained in prison until February 2009.