Lauren Bennett

Biography

Lauren Diane Bennett-Wormald (23 June 1989 – 29 May 2026) was an English singer from Meopham, Kent. She was a member of Paradiso Girls, who were known for the song "Patron Tequila", and G.R.L., who were featured on Pitbull's "Wild Wild Love" and were known for their song "Ugly Heart". She was also featured on LMFAO's 2011 single "Party Rock Anthem", which peaked at number 1 in 20 countries including the US and the UK, becoming the second highest selling single of the 2010s in the US.

== Life and career == Lauren Diane Bennett-Wormald was born in Meopham, Kent, England, on 23 June 1989, and spent many years entering local talent contests and singing in pubs and bars, from age 14 as part of a duo. When she was 17, she moved to Los Angeles to join Robin Antin's girl group Paradiso Girls, whose 2009 single "Patron Tequila" featured Lil Jon and Eve and reached number 3 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart and number 82 on the Canadian Hot 100. She subsequently expressed her annoyance at not being able to legally drink at the time she was performing it with the band. The group disbanded in 2010, after their second single, "Who's My Bitch", was unsuccessful. Bennett featured on CeeLo Green's "Love Gun" from his album The Lady Killer in 2010 and on LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" in 2011. The latter peaked at number one in 20 countries including the US and the UK and became the former's second highest selling single of the 2010s behind Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars's "Uptown Funk". She released her debut solo single "I Wish I Wish" later that year. In 2012, she joined G.R.L., a band intended as a successor to the Pussycat Dolls. Bennett was a member along with Paula Van Oppen, Natasha Slayton, Emmalyn Estrada, and Simone Battle; their debut song "Vacation" was featured on the soundtrack to The Smurfs 2. In 2014, they were featured on Pitbull's "Wild Wild Love" and released a self-titled EP, which included the single "Ugly Heart"; the first peaked at number 30 the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 11 on the UK singles chart, while the last peaked at number 6 in the UK, the top five in Australia and New Zealand, and the top 20 in several other countries. A further single, January 2015's "Lighthouse", was released in tribute to Battle, who had died by suicide in September 2014 at the age of 25, and was released as part of their Gives an Hour mental health campaign. Battle's suicide led to the group's disbandment in June 2015, although Bennett and Slayton reformed G.R.L. with Jazzy Mejia in 2016 and with Estrada and Van Oppen in 2020; the former spawned the singles "Are We Good" and "Kiss Myself". In 2016, Bennett featured on Nick Martin's "Reality" and released the single "Hurricane"; which was inspired by Battle's suicide and by watching her mother and friend struggle with their mental health. The year after, she featured on Nervo and Savi's "Forever or Nothing" and formed the folk, country, blues and rock duo Bennett with her brother Ryan. In September 2019 she and her partner Kenny Wormald welcomed their first child, a daughter. Her final social media post comprised her February 2026 cover of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'".

== Death == Bennett died in Meopham on 29 May 2026, at the age of 36, although her death was not widely reported until 6 July 2026, when it was announced by her former G.R.L. bandmates. Following the announcement, her father said that she had suffered a severe reaction to a prescribed medication five months earlier and TMZ said that her death was being investigated as a suicide. A coroner's inquest into her cause of death was scheduled for October 2026.

== Discography ==

=== Singles ===

==== As lead artist ====

==== As featured artist ====

==== Guest appearances ====