Rocker Lou Reed has offered his support to fellow Jewish performer Amy Winehouse, after dubbing her his favourite current star.

The Velvet Underground star is hooked on Winehouse’s second album Back To Black.

He tells Pitchfork: “I like Amy Winehouse - I hope everything’s ok with her, but what a great song.”

Troubled jazz songstress Amy Winehouse is proving she has recovered from her recent drug problems by heading back to the studio.

The Rehab hitmaker - who recently spent two short spells in rehab - has announced plans for a new album.

“I’m sorted out. Nothing’s wrong with me,” she says. “A lot of fuss has been made about nothing. I’m writing some new stuff and can’t wait to be back on tour.”

Legendary singer Barry Manilow has cancelled a scheduled appearance on U.S. TV show THE VIEW, because he dislikes co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

The mild-mannered Mandy singer was scheduled to appear on the daytime show today to promote his new covers album, The Greatest Songs of The Seventies.

But Manilow pulled out of the show, after stating he finds right-wing host Hasselbeck “dangerous and offensive” and strongly disagrees with her “conservative views.”