Lauren Bennett, singer on ‘Party Rock Anthem,’ dies at 37

Lauren Bennett, singer on ‘Party Rock Anthem,’ dies at 37

Lauren Bennett, the British singer recognized for her featured vocals on the 2011 hit Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO, has died. She was 37.

The news was shared Monday, July 6, via an Instagram statement from her former group, G.R.L. The message was signed by bandmates Paula van Oppen, Natasha Slayton, and Emmalyn Estrada.

"It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Lauren,"

G.R.L., via Instagram

The group added that their hearts are broken and stated that Bennett's beautiful spirit touched so many lives. While the public announcement occurred Monday, Kent and Medway Coroner records obtained by USA TODAY indicate Bennett died in England on May 29 at the age of 36, one month before her birthday.

Bennett was born on June 24, 1989, in Meopham, England. Her cause of death is currently unknown, and an inquest into the circumstances is scheduled for October, according to coroner records.

Bennett's professional trajectory began at age 18 in 2007 when she was chosen as one of seven women from more than 500 auditionees for the Paradiso Girls, a group formed by Robin Antin. The group released the debut single Patron Tequila in 2009, featuring Eve and Lil Jon, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

Following the dissolution of Paradiso Girls in 2010, Bennett transitioned to a solo career. During this period, she collaborated with will.i.am and CeeLo Green, the latter on the track Love Gun. Her most significant commercial success arrived in 2011 with Party Rock Anthem, which spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 in 20 different countries.

In 2012, Bennett was recruited for another of Antin's ventures, G.R.L. (Girls Rock Life), a group that began as a relaunch of the Pussycat Dolls. The group released Vacation, which appeared on the "Smurfs 2" soundtrack, as well as Ugly Heart and a feature on Pitbull's Wild Wild Love.

The group's history was marked by tragedy in 2014 when member Simone Battle died by suicide at age 25. G.R.L. Subsequently released Lighthouse as a tribute to Battle and launched the G.R.L. Gives an Hour campaign to support mental health. The group officially disbanded in June 2015, though they reformed in 2016.

Bennett's subsequent solo work often reflected these losses. In 2016, she released Hurricane, a song inspired by the death of Battle and Bennett's own mother's struggles with mental health.

"After G.R.L. ended, I had no idea what was going to happen next, everything fell apart pretty fast,"

Lauren Bennett, via Instagram

In 2017, Bennett expanded her musical range by forming BENNETT, a duo focused on rock, blues, folk, and country, with her brother Ryan. Her more recent releases included songs titled Reality and Hurricane. Her final social media activity occurred in February, when she posted a cover of These Boots Were Made for Walkin'.

Bennett is survived by her six-year-old daughter, Harlow, whom she shares with actor and dancer Kenny Wormald.