Lauren Bennett, who collaborated with LMFAO on the No. 1 hit “Party Rock Anthem” and later was a member of the group G.R.L. has died, according to an announcement from the latter. No cause or date of death was given. According to a social media post by her former Paradiso Girls bandmate Aria Crescendo, Bennett passed away before her June birthday. She was 36.
Bennett hit a career high point with “Party Rock Anthem” in 2011, on which she sang the bridge and hook. The song went No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and stayed there for six weeks. It also went to No. 1 in 20 other countries and has been nearly ubiquitous on radio and in commercials ever since. Watch the video here:
Born on June 24, 1989, in Kent, England, Bennett first made her mark competing as a teen on her home country’s version of The X-Factor. She soon joined the Paradiso Girls, a group assembled by Jimmy Iovine and the Pussycat Dolls’ Robin Antin, with whom she would collaborate throughout her career.
Antin later steered the singer into G.R.L, a girl group that often performed with Pitbull and teamed with him on the 2014 track “Wild Wild Love.” G.R.L took a break after the suicide of member Simone Battle. They later briefly reformed.
She segued to country music in 2017, forming the folk, country, blues and rock duo Bennett with her brother Ryan. Her final social media post came on February 22 — a video featuring her cover of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.”
Over the course of her career, Bennett also worked with will.i.am and CeeLo Green.
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G.R.L.’s remaining members posted a message on Instagram today confirming Bennett’s passing.
“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,” the message read in part.
While G.R.L. announced Bennett’s passing today, her former Paradiso Girls groupmate Aria Crescendo mourned her passing two weeks ago, posting photos of the two and their children on what she termed Bennett’s “forever birthday,” saying, “I wish you wore [sic.] here so we can celebrate.”
