GRL Singer Simone Battle Dies at 25
She was a popular 'X-Factor' contestant.
— -- Pop singer and former "X-Factor" contestant Simone Battle, a member of G.R.L., has died, her representatives told ABC News. She was 25.
She was found dead Friday morning in her West Hollywood home, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the loss of Simone Battle of G.R.L.," Reign Deer Entertainment, Robin Antin, Kemosabe Records, and RCA Records said in a statement.
"Simone was an exceptional young talent and human being, and we are all devastated to learn of her passing," the statement said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones at this time."
Battle grew up in Los Angeles, where she did some part time modeling and work in television and movies before ending up on tour with the Black Eyed Peas after high school, according to RCA records.
Battle told RCA records she knew she wanted to be a singer after her dad played a tape of Whitney Houston singing her blockbuster song "I Will Always Love You."
"After that I played the tape over and over till it unwound," she told RCA Records. "I love Josephine Baker, Eartha Kitt, and Dorothy Dandridge, but Whitney definitely inspired my dream to be a singer."
Battle attended the University of Southern California before trying out for the first season of "The X Factor." After being kicked off the show, she released her song "He Likes Boys" before joining the music group G.R.L.
Battle's bandmate Paula Van Oppen took to social media to mourn her friend.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office had not released any suspected cause of death as of late Saturday morning.