Lauren Bennett: Inquest outlines Party Rock Anthem singer's cause of death

English singer Lauren Bennett, who featured on LMFAO’s 2011 hit song Party Rock Anthem, took her own life, an inquest has found. Ms Bennett, 36, was found near her home in Meopham, Kent , by her husband, after telling him she was going for a walk on the morning of May 29. She had suffered a mental health crisis in January 2026, and had an “ongoing struggle” since then, Kent and Medway Coroners’ Court, in Maidstone , heard on Friday.

Bennett’s brother, step-brother and sister-in-law were in court for the hearing. Her death was first announced by members of her former girl group G.R.L, who remembered her as a “beautiful spirit” who will be “deeply missed”. Her husband, Kenny Wormald, told police that he was still half asleep when Ms Bennett left the house at about 9am to go for a walk.

Ms Bennett had suffered a mental health crisis in January 2026, and had an “ongoing struggle” since then, Kent and Medway Coroners’ Court, in Maidstone, heard on Friday (Getty) When she did not return, he and her father went looking for her using the “findmyphone” feature, and found her in a nearby area of woodland.

In a statement read out by the coroner in court, her father, Richard Bennett, said his daughter had lived an “amazing life”, having signed a record deal at just 17, and moved to the US on her own. Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill noted that Ms Bennett was in the care of “special mental health services” at the time of her death, and had been experiencing “substantial psychological suffering” since being sectioned for a few days in January.

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If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. She noted that Ms Bennett “continued to report symptoms of distress regarding the effects of the prescribed medication” and had a meeting with mental health services days before her death.

Ms Gill found that Ms Bennett had died by suicide from hanging. Bennett first found success with the girl group Paradiso Girls, whose 2009 single Patron Tequila featured Lil Jon and charted in the US and Canada before the group disbanded the following year. She went on to feature alongside LMFAO and GoonRock on Party Rock Anthem, one of the biggest hits of 2011.

The song topped charts in the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland and Australia. Ms Bennett toured the US twice and met her husband there, and they opened a dance studio together in Los Angeles, the inquest heard. Statements in court suggested that she was diagnosed with a genetic condition, Fragile X, before the couple moved back to the UK with their daughter.

In 2013, Bennett joined G.R.L, formed by producer Robin Antin after her success with the Pussycat Dolls . The group disbanded after the death of bandmate Simone Battle but Bennett returned when G.R.L. reunited with new line-ups in 2016 and again in 2020. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans , in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org , or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you