Lauren Bennett, a collaborator of the group LMFAO that rose to fame in the early 2010s for their massive hit song “Party Rock” has passed away at 37, her group G.R.L. announced on Instagram on Monday, July 6.
Bennett competed on the U.K. version of “The X Factor” in season 3, which aired in 2006.
Bennett collaborated with the group “LMFAO” on their massive 2011 hit song “Party Rock Anthem” from the album “Sorry for Party Rocking,” which was released in January of that year.
The death announcement, which was signed by Bennett’s fellow group members Emmalyn Estrada, Natasha Slayton, and Paula Van Oppen, said they were sharing the news “with great sadness” and called Bennett “our beloved Lauren.”
The message went on, “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.”
They told their friend to “rest peacefully” and promised, “You will always be in our hearts.”
The announcement did not address Bennett’s cause of death or share when it happened.
‘Party Rock Anthem’ Stayed at the Top of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for 6 Weeks
“Party Rock Anthem” was a massive hit that hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 16, 2011, staying in that position for 6 weeks. It was also an international success, going on to peak at number 1 in 20 countries by the end of the summer.
The Story Behind ‘Party Rock Anthem’
In an iHeartRadio interview about the inspiration behind the song, Redfoo explained, “Well, we’re apologizing for the ‘Party Rock’ lifestyle.” He continued, “We’re apologizing to then neighbors, to the hotel security,” before laughing about how he likes to ask “Do you wanna come in and have a drink?” when someone alerts him to a complaint.
Bennett supplied the unforgettable female vocals on the track, while Redfoo and his collaborator Sky Blu also sang, along with GoonRock.
In an Instagram video this May, Redfoo reminisced on how he created the song. He recalled, “What kinda comes to mind is I just remember spending like a month in the studio mixing that song. Tweaking it and stuff like that.” He shared that GoonRock, also known as Jamahl, was “the one who came up with the idea for that song.”
He revealed the original lyrics were “I can feel it in my soul tonight, everybody’s gonna have a good time,” but he and his manager jointly put together the better line “Party Rockers in the house tonight.” He said he knew the song would be a smash “in the clubs.”
Lauren Bennett’s ‘X Factor’ Journey & Career Highlights
Bennett got her start in the music industry by competing on “The X Factor,” where she performed as part of a duo called “Fusion” with another female contestant. She was eliminated during the bootcamp stage, but went on to join a girl group called Paradiso Girls before joining the pop group G.R.L., which stands for “Girls Rock Life.”
Along with “Party Rock Anthem,” G.R.L.’s hit song “Ugly Heart,” which did not get widespread attention in the U.S. but was big in Australia and New Zealand, was another of the major successes Bennett was a part of.
Bennett and her G.R.L. group members were also featured on the Pitbull song “Wild Wild Love.”
