By Melanie Linn Gutowski

Though Amy Winehouse's name could hardly be said to be synonymous with auntly sentiment, the London Daily Mail recently reported on her rather unusual decision to be an ABC (Auntie By Choice).

It seems that Winehouse has taken the up-and-coming R&B singer Dionne Bromfield under her wing.  Bromfield, the daughter of a Winehouse family friend, has embraced Winehouse wholeheartedly as her godmother and "Auntie Amy."

"My mum knew Amy’s dad first and then my mum and Amy used to hang together, and then I popped out and she was, like, 'Hey! We are family,’" said Bromfield.

Winehouse has served as Bromfield's mentor in the music industry, appearing on British television to sing backup vocals for her and even signing her goddaughter to her Lioness record label.  The Mail also reports that Winehouse plans to accompany Bromfield on her planned entry into the American market, though the troubled singer hasn't made many friends among U.S. officials.

Bromfield tells the Mail that she has no intention of following the wrong path where drugs and alcohol are concerned, and one would hope that this attitude would have a positive effect on Auntie Amy as well.

"Amy is really protective of me and that’s a good thing because I am only 14," Bromfield said.  "She is like a mother duck with me."

Bromfield is devoted to her Auntie Amy. She even bragged about her cooking! "She makes the best meatballs ever – better than Jamie Oliver."

"She is lovely," said Bromfield.  "We go shopping together and we love watching comedy programs and she buys great presents. She has a heart of gold."

Photo: The Guardian

Melanie Linn Gutowski is a freelance writer and a proud Godmother.