Leona Lewis has turned down the chance to perform for President Barack Obama - because she is too busy working on her second album.

The X Factor winner has been spending all her time at a recording studio in Los Angeles, preparing tracks for the follow-up to her hit debut Spirit.

And she said she is so determined to make the CD her best yet, she turned down the White House invitation to focus on her music.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, a source said: "Leona was thrilled to be invited to dinner by Obama. She really wanted to meet him and his wife Michelle, who is a big fan and has her Spirit album.

"They both think she is a strong, inspirational and talented young woman who is a fantastic role model for children. They would love her to get involved in some of their charity projects. But it was really unfortunate that it clashed with her tight schedule to get her second album done.

"Leona has had studio sessions in L.A. booked for months and has been working day and night getting things perfect. So there was no way she could make the trip to the White House."