Lauren Bennett dies at 37, her G.R.L. bandmates announced on Instagram, remembering the British singer known for “Party Rock Anthem” and “Ugly Heart.”
Natasha Slayton, Emmalyn Estrada and Paula van Oppen shared the news in a joint statement. They said their hearts were broken and called Bennett deeply loved. The group did not give a cause of death.
Bennett was born in Meopham, Kent, and began performing as a teenager. She later entered “The X Factor” and reached the final 12 before leaving the competition.
Her appearance led to an audition for a group created by Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin. Bennett moved to Los Angeles at 17 after making the lineup.
That group became Paradiso Girls, which released “Patron Tequila” featuring Eve and Lil Jon in 2009. The single reached No. 3 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
Bennett later joined G.R.L., another Antin-backed group. G.R.L. appeared on Pitbull’s 2014 hit “Wild Wild Love” and released a self-titled EP the same year.
The EP included “Ugly Heart,” which reached the top 20 in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
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G.R.L. disbanded in 2014 after the death of member Simone Battle. The group reformed as a trio in 2016, with Bennett among the returning members.
Bennett’s most widely heard appearance came on LMFAO’s 2011 hit “Party Rock Anthem,” one of the decade’s biggest pop tracks.
