Singer Lauren Bennett, widely recognized for her feature on LMFAO's 2011 hit "Party Rock Anthem" and her time in the girl group GRL, was honored at a private memorial service in London. Bennett died approximately three weeks ago in Kent, England, at the age of 37.
Her former GRL bandmates confirmed her passing in a statement on Monday, expressing their deep sorrow and cherishing the memories shared. "Our hearts are broken, and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us," the statement read. "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."
The cause of Bennett's death has not been publicly disclosed. Representatives for Bennett have been contacted for further comment.
Bennett first gained recognition in the music industry with the short-lived international girl group The Paradiso Girls, which released the single "Patron Tequila" in 2009. She later became a member of GRL, a group formed as a reboot of The Pussycat Dolls. GRL's members included Emmalyn Estrada, Natasha Slayton, and Paula Van Oppen. The group released songs such as "Vacation" for the soundtrack of "The Smurfs 2" and collaborated with Pitbull on the 2014 track "Wild Wild Love." Their single "Ugly Heart" reached number two on the Australian charts.
The death of Bennett comes 12 years after her GRL bandmate Simone Battle died by suicide at the age of 25 in September 2014. Following Battle's death, the remaining members of GRL released a tribute single, "Lighthouse," in January 2015 before the group officially disbanded later that year. Bennett had previously spoken about the profound grief and disbelief following Battle's passing, recalling their last rehearsal together.
Bennett is survived by her daughter, Harlow, aged six, with whom she shared with dancer Kenny Wormald. She also briefly reformed GRL in 2016 with Natasha Slayton and Jazzy Mejia, releasing the track "Are We Good?" before the band concluded again.
Bennett's final social media post was on February 22, featuring a cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'."