Amy Winehouse remembered at MTV Video Music Awards
(CBS) Amy Winehouse was remembered at Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards in a star-studded tribute to the late singer.
Russell Brand, who wrote a lengthy tribute to his friend following her death last month at the age of 27, kicked off the tribute by sharing memories of Winehouse.
He said she seemed like an "ordinary girl with extraordinary hair," but that once he heard her sing, he saw her talent. "She was a genius," he said.
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Tony Bennett said that she was a "true jazz artist," and shared video footage of him and Winehouse recording "Body and Soul" earlier this year at London's Abbey Road Studios.
Then, Bruno Mars performed a rendition of "Valerie," a song Winehouse covered for friend and producer Mark Ronson's 2007 album "Version."
The "Body and Soul" single and video will be released on Sept. 14, Winehouse's birthday, MTV reports, with proceeds going to the Amy Winehouse Foundation. The song also appears on Bennet's album "Duets II," which will be released Sept. 20.
"Our family is honored that the VMAs are giving Amy this wonderful tribute," her father, Mitch Winehouse, said in a statement. "We know that Amy's performance of 'Rehab' at the MTV Movie Awards played an important part in Amy's worldwide success."
A Winehouse family spokesman announced last week that toxicology tests showed no illegal drugs in the singer's system when she died. The tests showed alcohol was present, the spokesman added, but it has not yet been determined whether it played a role in her death. The family is awaiting the results of an investigation that is due to begin in October.
