Singer Lauren Bennett, a member of the girl group G.R.L., has died at the age of 36. Her death on May 29 in Kent, England, marks a fresh tragedy for the band, which was still reeling from the 2014 suicide of bandmate Simone Battle.
A formal inquest into Bennett's death has been scheduled for October 30. Representatives for Bennett have been contacted for comment. Local coroner records obtained by the Daily Mail confirmed her passing.
Bennett was known for her collaboration with LMFAO on the 2011 hit "Party Rock Anthem." G.R.L., an acronym for Girls Rock Life, was created by choreographer Robin Antin as a reboot of the Pussycat Dolls. The original lineup included Bennett, Battle, Emmalyn Estrada, Natasha Slayton, and Paula van Oppen.
The group was gaining momentum in 2014, with their song "Ugly Heart" charting and an appearance on Pitbull's "Wild Wild Love." They also released the song "Vacation" for the soundtrack of "The Smurfs 2," alongside Britney Spears. Their self-titled EP was released in 2014, but a full-length studio album was never completed due to Battle's death.
In September 2014, Battle died by suicide at age 25. At the time, reports suggested she had been experiencing depression related to financial concerns, despite the band's rising success. G.R.L. disbanded nine months later in 2015.
Following Battle's death, the remaining members released the single "Lighthouse" in her memory. Bennett and Slayton later reformed G.R.L. in 2016 with Jazzy Mejia, releasing the track "Are We Good?" but the group eventually went on hiatus again.
Bennett's ex-bandmates confirmed her death in a statement on Monday, sharing their grief: "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."
A private memorial service for Bennett was held in London, attended by her former bandmates from G.R.L. and her previous group, Paradiso Girls. Guests released balloons with messages and a display featured a photo of Bennett with the inscription, "Celebrating the Life of Lauren Bennett. Forever Loved. Forever With Us."
Bennett is survived by her six-year-old daughter, Harlow, with whom she shared with dancer Kenny Wormald. Her final public social media post was a cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'."