Who are Amy Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse? They divorced when the late singer was 9, and made a rare appearance at the premiere of their daughter’s controversial biopic Back to Black

Apr 12 , 2024

Amy Winehouse, her father Mitch and mother Janis pose with Amy’s award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for ‘Love Is a Losing Game’ at the 53rd Ivor Novello Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, in 2008, in London, England. Photo: Getty Images

Amy Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse, just made a rare public appearance together, attending the world premiere of Back to Black in London on Monday, as reported by British media.

Janis Winehouse and Mitch Winehouse attend the world premiere of Back to Black at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on April 8, in London, England. Photo: WireImage

The controversial biopic – directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the wife of rumoured future James Bond, Aaron Taylor-Johnson – tells the tale of the late, great musical legend who tragically passed away from alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27.

The new film releases today, on April 12, and has already sparked backlash from fans of the late singing legend and her former friends for its depictions of her drug addiction and the filming of her funeral, according to British media.

Amy Winehouse sighted outside Cityburlesque, where her father Mitch was playing a gig, in 2010 in London, England. Photo: FilmMagic

Here’s what we know about Amy Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse.

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Who are Amy Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse?

Mitch Winehouse and Janis Winehouse pose for a picture with a statue of their late daughter, Amy Winehouse, after it was unveiled in Camden’s Stables Market, in London, England, in 2014. Photo: AP Photo

According to Smooth Radio, Mitch was working as a taxi driver and window panel installer when he and his then wife welcomed their second child, Amy, in 1983. They have an older son, Alex. Per the source, he released a classic jazz record as a singer in 2010.

Amy’s mother Janis Winehouse-Collins is a former pharmacist. After splitting from Mitch when Amy was nine years old, she tied the knot with another man, Richard Collins, in 2011. Per the same article, she lives with multiple sclerosis.

Why is Mitch Winehouse so controversial?

Mitch Winehouse sporting a provocative T-shirt. Photo: @mitchwinehouse/Instagram

Mitch has seen his fair share of controversies while living in the limelight as Amy’s father. According to Yahoo! News, the 2015 documentary film Amy suggests that Mitch was exploitative during his daughter’s rise to stardom, as he joined the music industry at the same time.

But in an interview with Empire, Back to Black director Taylor-Johnson said Amy’s family had nothing to do with the film: “It was important to meet with them out of respect. But they have no involvement in terms of … like, they couldn’t change things. They couldn’t dictate how I was to shoot. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done it.”

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What was Amy Winehouse’s childhood like?

Amy Winehouse with her dad Mitch. Photo: @mitchwinehouse/Instagram

According to Biography, Amy was born in the London suburb of Southgate to a Jewish family, and was always immersed in music, with many of her uncles on her mum’s side being professional jazz musicians. Britannica notes that she was raised mainly by her mother after her parents’ divorce.

Who inherited Amy Winehouse’s wealth?

Mitch and Amy Winehouse. Photo: @mitchwinehouse/Instagram

As reported by Rolling Stone, Amy’s parents inherited her entire fortune following her death, with her father controlling her US$4.7 million estate. Per the same source, Amy did not leave a will behind when she died.

Fame and celebrity

Amy Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse, just made a rare public appearance together, attending the world premiere of Back to Black in London on Monday
The biopic is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the wife of rumoured future James Bond Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and tells the tale of the late, great musical legend – but why is it controversial?