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Former Druggie Bashes Winehouse Wins

"We have to stop rewarding bad behavior," says Natalie Cole, Best New Artist of 1975, of her 2008 counterpart, 'Rehab' refusenik Amy Winehouse. The veteran singer told PEOPLE at a Grammys after-party that while she agrees Winehouse is "talented, gifted ... it's not right for her to be able to have her cake and eat it too. She needs to get herself together."

The lady knows whereof she speaks. The daughter of the late Nat King Cole published her autobiography in 2000, in which she described her own vast experience with hard drugs, including LSD, heroin and crack cocaine, in sordid detail. She's had her Grammy cake, too, eight times.

If her anti-Amy diatribe was intended out of the goodness of her heart, from one recovering addict to another, it also seemed more than a little oblivious to the fact that this is, after all, the industry that gave us 'Behind the Music.' "This is about discipline and hard work," said Ms. Cole, "and you don't get to just do your drugs and go onstage and get rewarded." No? Is it just us, or was Andy Williams rocking the Geritol on Sunday?


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TONETTE

This is Natlie Cole's way to get her book out there.

Let's use her own statement. Let stop rewarding bad behavior. So we won't listen to her.

She is washed-up and who knows may start using tomorrow.

January 28 2010 at 3:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to TONETTE's comment
jim rimmer

naterlie is a true artist i love all her music she does not need to bad press anyone , id just like to know when she will come to the uk ill be there if she does.

March 17 2010 at 10:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
michelles friend

oh natalie get over yourself........why up on your highhorse?????????? didn't you have drug problems of your own??????? how dare you...you are just jealous cos rhianna did not win......why the vested interest in rihanna natalie??? get over your ugly nastly OLD self...........good luck amy...................

February 13 2008 at 9:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pat

Talented--? I have no doubt that Amy Winehouse will go down in the history books for being a wacked out druggie more so than a talented performer. Maybe she still has time to prove the crtics wrong!

February 12 2008 at 6:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pat

ABSOLUTELY TRUE...Seems that is the way it works though in the musical history books. Get messed up and pick yourself up a Grammy--I bet everyone listed in those categories are shaking their heads too.

February 12 2008 at 6:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply