GRL’s Lauren Bennett dies aged 37 as bandmates issue heartbreaking tribute
GRL have announced the death of singer Lauren Bennett, aged just 37, with her bandmates taking to social media to issue a rare and heartbreaking statement
Lauren Bennett of GRL has died(Image: INSTAGRAM )
GRL singer Lauren Bennett has died aged 37. In a statement, the band said: “It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Lauren.
“Our hearts are broken, and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us. We will forever cherish the love, laughter, and countless memories she gave us. Her beautiful spirit touched so many lives, and she will be deeply missed and forever loved.
“Rest peacefully, sweet Lauren. You will always be in our hearts. Your GRLS, Em, Tash, and P.” Pussycat Dolls star Jessica Sutta said: “I’m so incredibly sorry for your loss. She was magnificent. Beautiful, talented and so incredibly sweet. May she rest in peace.” Bennett shot to fame as a member of the group The Paradiso Girls in 2007, alongside six other women. The following year, the group was cut to just five members, including Lauren.
Bennett (left) found global fame with GRL (Image: WireImage)
But three years later, the group disbanded, with Lauren launching a solo career and appearing in a remix of Will.i.am’s I Got It From my Mama. And it was from this that she cemented herself as the next up-and-coming star, before working with LMFAO and featured on their global hit, Party Rock Anthem, which became her first Number One single in the UK.
And after featuring in the Pussycat Dolls fitness DVD, it was thanks to founder Robin Antin that Lauren went on to achieve more success, with GRL, alongside her bandmates Natasha Slayton, Emmalyn Estrada, Paula van Oppen and the late Simone Battle.
In June of 2013, the group released their debut single, Vacation, which featured in the The Smurfs 2, instantly giving them recognition across the globe. They went on to top the charts before collaborating with Pitbull on the single Wild Wild Love, charting in the Top 10 in the UK, where Lauren was born.
Lauren initially achieved success as a solo artist(Image: INSTAGRAM)
Along came their track Ugly Heart, which certified the group as the biggest girl group of their time, earning four platinum certifications. But with their success came the ultimate heartbreak: Lauren’s bandmate, Simone Battle, was tragically found dead at her home in West Hollywood at the height of their fame.
Following Simone’s death, which a coroner ruled to be suicide, Lauren and her bandmates launched the Give an Hour campaign – GRL Gives an Hour, dedicated to raising awareness of mental health struggles. The group also honoured Battle with their single, Lighthouse.
Following the disbandment of GRL, Bennett went on to relaunch her solo career with her single Hurricane. Speaking about the group ending, Bennett said: “After G.R.L. ended I had no idea what was going to happen next, everything fell apart pretty fast. That’s when this song was written.
Lauren’s bandmates issued a heartbreaking tribute to the late star(Image: INSTAGRAM)
“After seeing my mother suffer with mental struggles for years I then lost a friend to this. It has always affected my life in some way. We all at least know someone who has dealt with it or have yourself. This is a story to show from my eyes what it feels like to suffer from this but also the other perspective to lose someone to this.”
While keeping herself in the public eye, Lauren also maintained a level of privacy. In 2019, the singer and her partner, Footloose star Kenny Wormald, announced they were expecting their first child together. Their daughter, Harlow, was born on September 6, 2019.
Bennett is survived by daughter Harlow and partner Kenny.