Jump to content

G.R.L.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

G.R.L.
A long-haired brunette young tanned woman with a white armless crop-top and short shorts and black knee-length socks looking left with her right hand touching the back of her head; a shaved-headed young tanned woman with white crop jacket, X-shaped white top, and white trousers looking into the camera and with her hands on her hips; a black long-haired young with an elbow-length white crop shirt and white shorts looking left and with her left-hand on her left elbow with her index and middle finger outstretched; a tanned brunette woman with long hair and white swimsuit with the name of the band on it looking left; a tanned long-haired blonde woman in a white crop-top and white trousers with slashed knees looking left and with her hands by her knees; all posing in front of a white wall with red company logos.
Natasha Slayton, Paula van Oppen, Simone Battle, Emmalyn Estrada, and Lauren Bennett in September 2013
Background information
Years active
  • 2011–2015
  • 2016–2021
Labels
Spinoff ofThe Pussycat Dolls
Past members

G.R.L. was an American supergroup comprising Lauren Bennett and some combination of Natasha Slayton, Paula van Oppen, Emmalyn Estrada, Jazzy Mejia, and Simone Battle. The group featured on Pitbull's single "Wild Wild Love", which peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 6 on the UK singles chart, and had a hit with their own "Ugly Heart", which charted at number 2 in Ireland and Australia. They also supported Meghan Trainor on her That Bass Tour and mounted the G.R.L. Gives an Hour mental health campaign.

History

[edit]

G.R.L. took its name from the word girl and had been deliberately misspelled on the basis that the word team does not contain the letter I.[1] The band was formed by choreographer Robin Antin, who had previously put together the bands Girlicious, Paradiso Girls, and The Pussycat Dolls.[2] The lattermost was formed in 1995 as a burlesque troupe before morphing into a pop group all members left in 2010; Antin also put together The Pussycat Dolls Burlesque Revue. By November 2011, the Revue's members had included Vanessa Curry, a former Laker Girl;[3][4] Paula van Oppen, who had been in Burlesque and on So You Think You Can Dance;[5][3][4] and English Paradiso Girls alumnus Lauren Bennett, who had featured on LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" earlier that year.[6][3][4]

Antin announced in March 2011 that she was holding auditions for a new pop group called The Pussycat Dolls.[5] That November, she denied having confirmed a lineup following a Perez Hilton post[a] and Bennett joined the group. A Pussycat Dolls line-up featuring Bennett, van Oppen, Curry, Girlicious alumnus Chrystina Sayers, and Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Erica Jenkins had performed in a GoDaddy commercial broadcast during February 2012's Super Bowl XLVI.[3][5] Sayers, Curry, and Jenkins had been replaced by Amanda Branche, Girlicious alumnus Natalie Mejia, and Me and You and Everyone We Know actress Natasha Slayton by July.[7][5] Branche and Mejia were later replaced by Simone Battle, who joined in August and had made the top 17 on the first series of The X Factor, and Canadian musician Emmalyn Estrada, who had released minor hits in her home country and appeared in Bates Motel.[8][5][9]

Antin changed the band's name to G.R.L. in February 2013 on the grounds that the band's music was less urban than that of The Pussycat Dolls.[9][10] Following G.R.L.'s debut at Chateau Marmont in April 2013,[11] the band signed to Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records in conjunction with RCA Records and released their debut single "Vacation" on the label in June. "Vacation" was included on the soundtrack for the animated movie The Smurfs 2 as a B-side to Britney Spears's "Ooh La La"[10] and was intended for a debut album,[10] for which the band worked with Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Cirkut on material.[12] They then released "Show Me What You Got", which appeared on a US Now That's What I Call Music! album,[13][14] and featured on Pitbull's February 2014 single "Wild Wild Love", which peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 6 on the UK singles chart.[15][16]

A white woman in black with short brown hair looking left, a long-haired blonde white woman with a white mid-length jacket and light brown bottoms looking right, a white woman in black with shoulder-length black hair looking left, and a long-haired brunette white woman with a white shirt and black high-waisted shorts and tie also looking left, in that order and all singing on a dark stage into standing microphones while pointing into the air with their left index fingers.
G.R.L. performing during the Campaign to Change Direction in Washington, D.C.

G.R.L.'s track "Ugly Heart" was leaked in March, released in America in June 2014,[14][17] and released in the UK in August.[18] The track diversified the band's usual sound from dance-pop to indie pop[14] and reached number 2 in Australia and Ireland,[19] the top five in New Zealand,[20] number 11 in the UK,[21][22] and the top 20 in several other countries.[23] "Ugly Heart" was also certified quadruple-platinum in Australia[24] and featured on the band's self-titled EP in July 2014, the latter alongside "Show Me What You Got".[12][25] Battle died by suicide less than a week after "Ugly Heart"'s UK release; her death led G.R.L.'s surviving members to release the tribute single "Lighthouse",[26] mount the G.R.L. Gives an Hour mental health campaign with Give an Hour in her honor,[27] launch the firm's Campaign to Change Direction with Michelle Obama,[28][12] and disband shortly after supporting Meghan Trainor on her That Bass Tour in June 2015. As of their dissolution, they had not released their debut album.[29][12]

Bennett and Slayton reformed G.R.L. with Jazzy Mejia in August 2016[30] and released the singles "Kiss Myself" and "Are We Good" in September and December.[31][32] Shortly after the former, Little Mix were accused of plagiarising "Ugly Heart" for their single "Shout Out to My Ex",[33][34] prompting Little Mix to discuss the two songs' similarities during a Belgian radio interview.[35][36] Bennett and Slayton toured with Mejia until 2020,[37] when the pair briefly reunited with Estrada and van Oppen;[38] Estrada stayed into 2021. Slayton used a July 2025 podcast appearance to blame money for the band's subsequent dissolution[39] and a 2026 joint post with Estrada and van Oppen to announce Bennett's death.[27]

Discography

[edit]

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details
G.R.L.

Singles

[edit]

As lead artists

[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Bub.
[41]		 AUS
[42]		 IRE
[43]		 NL
[44]		 NOR
[45]		 NZ
[46]		 SWE
[47]		 UK
[48]
"Vacation" 2013 ———————— Music from and Inspired by The Smurfs 2
"Show Me What You Got" 2014 — — — — — — — — G.R.L.
"Ugly Heart" 2014 222284173711
"Lighthouse" 2015 —3059——18—55 Non-album singles
"Kiss Myself" 2016 — — — — — — — —
"Are We Good?" 2016 ————————
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[15]		 AUS
[42]		 CAN
[52]		 FRA
[53]		 IRE
[43]		 NOR
[54]		 NZ
[46]		 UK
[55]
"Wild Wild Love"
(Pitbull featuring G.R.L.)		 2014 3010229030 7256 Globalization

Music videos

[edit]
List of music videos, showing director
Title Year Ref
"Vacation" 2013 [59]
"Wild Wild Love" 2014 [60]
"Ugly Heart" [61]
"Lighthouse" 2015 [62]
"Are We Good?" 2017 [63]

Members

[edit]
  • Lauren Bennett (2011–2015, 2016–2021, died 2026)
  • Simone Battle (2012–2014, died 2014)
  • Emmalyn Estrada (2012–2015, 2020–2021)
  • Natasha Slayton (2012–2015, 2016–2021)
  • Paula van Oppen (2012–2015, 2020)
  • Jazzy Mejia (2016–2020)

Tours

[edit]

Supporting

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Bennett, van Oppen, Vanessa Curry, Taz Zavala, Kristal Lyndriette Smith, and Kia Hampton.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Robin Antin Built a Girl Group Empire with The Pussycat Dolls. But Does the Formula Still Work? - LA Weekly". June 3, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  2. ↑ Angelo, Megan (August 21, 2014). "There's Never Been Another Spice Girls: Why Can't Music Come Up With a Great Girl Group?". Glamour. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Vena, Jocelyn (February 6, 2012). "Pussycat Dolls' Post-Super Bowl Plans Include Kim Kardashian - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Benjamin, Jeff (November 6, 2011). "Pussycat Dolls Creator Robin Antin: Revamped Group Will Be 'Fierce'". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "G.R.L power! America's newest girl group". Digital Spy. August 7, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Dolls creator sets sights on Lohan". Las Vegas Review-Journal. September 20, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Agora é oficial? Nova formação do Pussycat Dolls é revelada". Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Photos: New Pussycat Dolls lineup revealed as Robin Antin expands empire". Las Vegas Weekly. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  9. 1 2 "G.R.L singer found dead". Stuff. September 7, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 Lipshutz, Jason (July 9, 2013). "G.R.L.: New Girl Group's Formation Was 'Not Something That Happened Overnight'". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  11. ↑ Lansky, Sam (April 18, 2013). "The Pussycat Dolls Get Reborn As GRL & We Will Never Be The Same". Idolator. Retrieved September 10, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. 1 2 3 4 Jason Lipshutz (June 3, 2015). "GRL Breaks Up". Billboard. (Prometheus Global Media). Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  13. ↑ "The Good, the Bad & the Hilarious of All 50 'Now That's What I Call Music!' Albums". Bustle. May 22, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 "G.R.L.'s New Single "Ugly Heart" Is What Pop Music Is All About — LISTEN". Bustle. June 3, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2026.
  15. 1 2 "GRL have split up". Digital Spy. June 3, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  16. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (March 3, 2015). "Girl Group Tragedy: Inside G.R.L.'s Slow Healing Process". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  17. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (June 3, 2014). "G.R.L. Drops 'Ugly Heart' Single: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  18. ↑ Stroude, Will (September 7, 2017). "Girl group GRL have apparently split". Attitude. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  19. ↑ Newsdesk, The Hot Press. "G.R.L confirm split". Hotpress. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  20. ↑ Myers, Owen (July 6, 2026). "Lauren Bennett, singer on LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem, dies aged 36". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  21. ↑ "GRL singer Simone Battle's death was 'suicide by hanging'". BBC News. September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  22. ↑ Welsh, Daniel (July 7, 2026). "Party Rock Anthem Singer Lauren Bennett Has Died, Aged 37". HuffPost UK. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  23. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (July 6, 2026). "Lauren Bennett, "Party Rock Anthem" Singer and G.R.L. Member, Dies at 37". Variety. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  24. ↑ "News: G.R.L. Confirm Return To Aus As Special Guests For Meghan Trainor". renownedforsound.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2026. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  25. ↑ "EP Review: G.R.L – G.R.L". renownedforsound.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2026. Retrieved October 5, 2026.
  26. ↑ "G.R.L. debut Lighthouse video - watch". Official Charts. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Lauren Bennett, known for LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem,' dies at 36". USA TODAY. July 6, 2026. Archived from the original on July 6, 2026. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  28. ↑ Olson, Cathy Applefeld (March 5, 2015). "G.R.L. 'Make Something Positive' Out Of Bandmate's Death at D.C. Mental-Health Event". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  29. ↑ Meares, Joel (April 27, 2015). "Meghan Trainor review: A pop star you want to take home to dad". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  30. ↑ Macatee, Rebecca (August 5, 2016). "Girl Group G.R.L. Reforms Nearly Two Years After Simone Battle's Tragic Suicide". E! News. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Listen to GRL's big new club banger 'Kiss Myself'". Digital Spy. September 29, 2016.
  32. ↑ "The Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear this week". Digital Spy. December 9, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Little Mix accused of 'ripping off' G.R.L's Ugly Heart for new single Shout Out To My Ex". www.chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  34. ↑ "G.R.L Just Gave The Most Brutal Side-Eye To Little Mix For 'Copying' Their Song". Capital. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Little Mix respond to accusations of copying G.R.L. on 'Shout Out To My Ex'". NME. October 24, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  36. ↑ Briones, Isis (October 25, 2016). "Watch Little Mix Shut Down Those Accusing Them of Copying "Shout Out to My Ex"". Teen Vogue. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  37. ↑ Roundtree, Cheyenne (July 7, 2026). "Lauren Bennett, G.R.L. Member and Singer on LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem,' Dead at 37". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
  38. ↑ "'Party Rock Anthem' singer Lauren Bennett dies at 37". The Independent. July 6, 2026. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
  39. ↑ Ocho, Alex (July 6, 2026). "G.R.L.'s Lauren Bennett, Who Sang on LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem,' Dies at 37". Complex. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
  40. ↑ Peters, Mitchell (September 6, 2014). "G.R.L.'s Simone Battle Dies at 25". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  41. ↑ "G.R.L. Chart History:Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  42. 1 2 "Discography G.R.L." australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
  43. 1 2 "g.r.l | IRMA". Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Dutch charts - Soundtrack Lemonade Mouth". dutchcharts.nl Mega Top. May 30, 2011. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
  45. ↑ "G.R.L. - Ugly Heart". norwegiancharts.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015.
  46. 1 2 "DISCOGRAPHY G.R.L." charts.nz.
  47. ↑ Steffen Hung. "swedishcharts.com - G.R.L. - Ugly Heart". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  48. ↑ "GRL | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  49. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  50. 1 2 "BRIT Certified - bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Grl" and select "Search by Keyword"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  51. 1 2 3 "Single Certification Search – RadioScope". Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  52. ↑ "Pitbull Chart History: Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard.b
  53. ↑ "Discographie G*R*L". lescharts.com.
  54. ↑ "Pitbull feat. G*R*L - Wild Wild Love". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Pitbull" (select "Albums" tab). Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  56. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  57. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". Music Canada. November 24, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  59. ↑ GRLVEVO (September 9, 2013). G.R.L. - Vacation (Official Video). Retrieved October 6, 2026 – via YouTube.
  60. ↑ PitbullVEVO (March 31, 2014). Pitbull - Wild Wild Love (Official Video) ft. G.R.L. Retrieved October 6, 2026 – via YouTube.
  61. ↑ GRLVEVO (July 1, 2014). G.R.L. - Ugly Heart (Official Video). Retrieved October 6, 2026 – via YouTube.
  62. ↑ GRLVEVO (January 15, 2015). G.R.L. - Lighthouse (Official Video). Retrieved October 6, 2026 – via YouTube.
  63. ↑ GRLVEVO (January 25, 2017). G.R.L. - Are We Good. Retrieved October 6, 2026 – via YouTube.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=G.R.L.&oldid=1379306183"