British singer Amy Winehouse will not get a work visa to travel to the United States in time to perform at a leading music festival because she was charged with assault last week, her spokesman said on Monday.

Winehouse, 25, had been expected to perform at the annual Coachella festival in California, where she was due to join acts including Paul McCartney and The Killers. According to the festival website, she was down to sing on April 18.

The bee-hived soul singer, who won five Grammy awards in 2008 and whose second album "Back to Black" has won widespread critical acclaim, was charged with common assault following an incident at a ball in London's Berkeley Square last year.

Her private life, including a battle against drug addiction, has increasingly overshadowed her recording success over the last two years.

Winehouse had to perform live from Britain via satellite at the 2008 Grammy award ceremony in Los Angeles because she was attending a drug rehabilitation facility at the time and also had problems in getting a U.S. work visa.

The hearing in the assault case is due to take place at Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 17.

(China Daily/Agencies March 10, 2009)