G.R.L.

{{short description|American girl group}}

{{About||other meanings|GRL (disambiguation){{!}}GRL|the eponymous extended play by this group|G.R.L. (EP)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = G.R.L.

| image = G.R.L 2013-09-28-Skokie-IL photoby Adam-Bielawski.jpg

| landscape = yes

| caption = G.R.L. on September 29, 2013
From left to right: Natasha Slayton, Paula van Oppen, Simone Battle, Emmalyn Estrada and Lauren Bennett

| origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| genre = {{hlist|Pop|teen pop|R&B}}

| years_active = 2012–2015, 2016–2021{{efn|Indefinite hiatus}}

| spinoff_of = The Pussycat Dolls

| label = {{Flat list |

}}

| current_members = * Lauren Bennett

| past_members = * Paula van Oppen

}}

G.R.L. (an initialism for Girls Rock Life){{Cite web |last=Antin |first=Robin |date=January 23, 2021 |title=GRL live w "special guest" ME!💋 |url=https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKZ0uOeBzJ-/?igsh=Z2E5cjlkNGxjN2s= |access-date=August 14, 2024 |website=Instagram}} was a British-Canadian-American girl group formed by Robin Antin. The group consists of members Lauren Bennett, Natasha Slayton and Emmalyn Estrada.

The original line-up consisted of Bennett, Slayton, Estrada, Paula van Oppen and Simone Battle. They made their debut appearance on the Smurfs 2 soundtrack with "Vacation". They would go on to appear on Pitbull's internationally successful track "Wild Wild Love", which peaked in the top 40 in the United States and top 10 in the United Kingdom, and was certified platinum by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Their second single "Ugly Heart" gained international success shortly after the suicide of member Simone Battle. Leaving the group as a quartet, this inspired the group to release their next single "Lighthouse" in memory of Battle. The group disbanded shortly after its release, on June 2, 2015.

G.R.L. officially reformed on August 5, 2016, with the addition of new member Jazzy Mejia alongside Bennett and Slayton.

In October 2020, the group's original line-up briefly reformed to record new music before van Oppen announced her departure from the group in December of the same year, thus leaving the group a trio for the second time before they went on an indefinite hiatus.

History

=2011–2012: Background and line-up changes=

In March 2011, Antin began holding auditions to find new girls to replace the departed members of The Pussycat Dolls.{{cite web|title=New Pussycat Dolls sought|url=http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/celebrities/2011/03/17/17655341-wenn-story.html|access-date=18 March 2011|archive-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629085711/http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/celebrities/2011/03/17/17655341-wenn-story.html|url-status=dead}} The new line-up made their debut on February 5, 2012, during the Super Bowl, as part of GoDaddy's annual TV commercials, appearing with Danica Patrick. "The look of the commercial is not necessarily the new look of the group this time around," said Robin Antin, adding, "It's breathtakingly beautiful. It's a fun, real-campy kind of sexy. It's all of that, but again, what we're doing for this next life of the Pussycat Dolls, the girls are all young. It's a fresh, young energy."{{cite web|last=Vena |first=Jocelyn |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1678175/pussycat-dolls-debut-super-bowl.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203022809/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1678175/pussycat-dolls-debut-super-bowl.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |title=Pussycat Dolls' New Lineup To Debut In Super Bowl Ad - Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV |date=2012-01-30 |access-date=2012-04-10}} An official picture taken from the ad showed five members: Lauren Bennett, Paula van Oppen, Vanessa Curry, Chrystina Sayers, and Erica Kiehl Jenkins.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/291869/20120202/pussycat-dolls-photo-super-bowl-2012-go.htm |title=Meet the New Pussycat Dolls! Girls will Debut at Super Bowl 2012 [PHOTOS] - International Business Times |publisher=Ibtimes.com |date=2012-02-02 |access-date=2012-04-10}}{{cite web|last=Vena |first=Jocelyn |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1678629/pussycat-dolls-post-super-bowl-plans.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208234242/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1678629/pussycat-dolls-post-super-bowl-plans.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2012 |title=Pussycat Dolls' Post-Super Bowl Plans Include Kim Kardashian - Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV.com |date=2012-02-06 |access-date=2012-12-23}}

On April 13, 2012, it was announced that Chrystina Sayers was no longer a part of the new line-up.{{cite web|title=Chrystina Sayers Formerly of Pop Group "Girlicious" Embarks on Solo Career With Genius Music|url=http://www.prlog.org/11848070-chrystina-sayers-formerly-of-pop-group-girlicious-embarks-on-solo-career-with-genius-music.html|access-date=12 July 2012}} In July 2012, the line-up was announced consisting of Bennett and Van Oppen, with new members Natalie Mejia, Amanda Branche, and Natasha Slayton, thus confirming Jenkins and Curry's withdrawal from the group.{{cite web|title=Agora é oficial? Nova formação do Pussycat Dolls é revelada |url=http://popline.mtv.uol.com.br/agora-e-oficial-nova-formacao-do-pussycat-dolls-e-revelada |access-date=12 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102083002/http://popline.mtv.uol.com.br/agora-e-oficial-nova-formacao-do-pussycat-dolls-e-revelada |archive-date=2 November 2012 }} In August 2012, publicity photos showed the "new" line-up including Simone Battle (from Season one of The X Factor USA) replacing Branche.{{cite web |url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2012/aug/28/photos-new-pussycat-dolls-lineup-revealed-robin-an/ |title=Photos: New Pussycat Dolls lineup revealed as Robin Antin expands empire |work=Las Vegas Weekly |access-date=2012-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830094340/http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2012/aug/28/photos-new-pussycat-dolls-lineup-revealed-robin-an/ |archive-date=2012-08-30 |url-status=dead }} In November 2012, it was revealed, through the hiring of Emmalyn Estrada, that Mejia was no longer part of the group, thus creating the official lineup of G.R.L.{{cite web|title=New Pussycat Dolls Lineup With Natalie Out & Emmalyn In|url=http://www.homorazzi.com/article/pussycat-dolls-emmalyn-estrada-new-member-natalie-mejia-out/|access-date=29 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130085310/http://www.homorazzi.com/article/pussycat-dolls-emmalyn-estrada-new-member-natalie-mejia-out/|archive-date=30 November 2012|url-status=dead}} Mejia announced that she was expecting her first child with her husband, and due to her situation she made a choice to not continue with the group.{{cite web|title=I was married in June and was asked to keep it private, I found out about my little girl in September and was asked to make a choice|url=http://instagram.com/p/StNtramIvN/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121225215730/http://instagram.com/p/StNtramIvN/|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 December 2012|access-date=2 December 2012}}

=2013–2014: Mainstream success, ''G.R.L.'' and Battle's death=

{{Quote box|width=25em||align=right|style=padding:8px|quote="There's different flavors in here. There are other girl groups that share the lead, but we also share the lead as well as being very individual. We all have our own thing going on. We took out the "I" -- it's basically short for girl, [but] we give it a new meaning. A girl isn't just a young female, it's a strong minded and a strong willed individual. It really represents the bond that we have because we're all strong individuals and we come together and unite as one girl."|source = — G.R.L, on being transcendent of the typical girl group.{{cite web|author=Sophie Schillaci|title=G.R.L. Brings a New Meaning to Girl Power|url=http://www.etonline.com/music/149010_grl_brings_a_new_meaning_to_girl_power/|website=Entertainment Tonight|date=29 July 2014 |access-date=11 June 2015}}

}}

In February 2013, Antin officially announced that the girls will be making their debut as a brand-new group with a different name instead of replacing the departed members of the Pussycat Dolls.{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/7453419/new-pussycat-dolls-grl-robin-antin|title=The Pussycat Dolls Get Reborn As GRL & We Will Never Be The Same|last=Lansky|first=Sam|date=April 18, 2013|work=Idolator|access-date=September 10, 2013}} The group was officially unveiled at Chateau Marmont in April. On June 16, the group released their debut single, "Vacation", which was included on the soundtrack for the animated movie The Smurfs 2 as a B-side to Britney Spears' "Ooh La La".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/1569377/grl-new-girl-groups-formation-was-not-something-that-happened|title=G.R.L.: New Girl Group's Formation Was 'Not Something That Happened Overnight'|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|date=July 9, 2013|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 10, 2013}} The song made its official debut on a national chart on the South Korea Gaon International Chart at number ninety-seven.{{cite web|url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/download.php?nationGbn=E¤t_year=¤t_month=06¤t_week=28&chart_Time=week|title=South Korea Gaon International Chart|publisher=Gaon Chart|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005004102/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/download.php?nationGbn=E¤t_year=¤t_month=06¤t_week=28&chart_Time=week|archive-date=October 5, 2013|url-status=dead}} On September 10, 2013, in Brooklyn, New York, the group began a monthlong promotional tour partnered with Claire's and Westfield Malls meeting fans, visiting radio stations, and performing at select locations.{{cite web|author1=Rob Perez|title=GRL launches promotional tour at select Claire's stores and Westfield malls in US|url=http://themusicuniverse.com/grl-launches-promotional-tour-at-select-claires-stores-and-westfield-malls-in-us/|website=The Music Universe|access-date=11 June 2015|date=2013-09-04|archive-date=2016-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503113554/http://themusicuniverse.com/grl-launches-promotional-tour-at-select-claires-stores-and-westfield-malls-in-us/|url-status=dead}} The group's collaboration with rapper Pitbull on the lead single, "Wild Wild Love" off his album Globalization, became successful internationally.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/pop-shop/girl-group-week/6487665/GRL-interview-simone-battle-girl-group-week |title=Girl Group Tragedy: Inside G.R.L.'s Slow Healing Process |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |magazine=Billboard |date=March 3, 2015 |access-date=March 4, 2015}} The single peaked at number thirty on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, selling 767,000 copies in the U.S. as of March 2015. The song made the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Indonesia, Norway, United Kingdom, including certified platinum in Australia and Canada.{{cite web|url=http://aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2014.htm|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles 2014|publisher=ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 7, 2015}}

Not long after their formation they announced they had begun recording for their debut studio album, with songwriters and record producers Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Cirkut, Darkchild, and Lukas Hilbert.{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/grl-interview-pitbull-ugly-heart-wild-wild-love/|title=G.R.L. Interview: On Pitbull, "Ugly Heart" + Empowerment|website=PopCrush|date=April 4, 2014|access-date=February 24, 2015}} However, the album was scrapped in favor of a self-titled EP instead. The lead single off the EP, "Ugly Heart", debuted in the ARIA Singles Chart at forty-one, before peaking in the top ten at number 2, becoming the group's most successful single to date, being certified 4× platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a584059/the-madden-brothers-end-justice-crews-no1-reign-in-australia.html|title=The Madden Brothers end Justice Crew's No.1 reign in Australia|last=Corner|first=Lewis|date=July 14, 2014|work=Digital Spy|access-date=July 15, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/news/47420/paloma-faith-staying-strong-at-no.-1|title=Paloma Faith staying strong at No. 1|date=August 2, 2014|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=August 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923200045/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/news/47420/paloma-faith-staying-strong-at-no.-1|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=dead}} The song peaked at number ten on The Australian 2014 Year End charts, certifying platinum.{{cite web |url=http://ariacharts.com.au/chart/top-100-singles |title=ARIA Australian End of Year Singles Chart {{pipe}} Australias Official Top 40 end of year Songs in {0} - ARIA Charts |access-date=2016-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226204347/http://ariacharts.com.au/chart/top-100-singles |archive-date=2015-02-26}} The track reached a peak position of number 3 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.{{cite web|url=http://nztop40.co.nz/ |title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart |publisher=Recorded Music NZ |access-date=18 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130103734/http://nztop40.co.nz/ |archive-date=30 November 2012}}

On September 5, 2014, Battle was found dead in her West Hollywood home.{{cite web| url=http://www.fox.com.au/scoopla/music/blog/2014/9/grls-simone-battle-passes-away/ |title=GRL's Simone Battle Passes away |publisher=Fox 101.9 |date=6 September 2014 |access-date=6 September 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Alexander|first1=Susannah|title=Simone Battle of girl group GRL dies, aged 25|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a595031/simone-battle-of-girl-group-grl-dies-aged-25.html#~oPov11jd5L1yyg|website=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Corporation|access-date=September 6, 2014|date=September 6, 2014}} Los Angeles County Coroner's Lieutenant Fred Corral ruled the death a suicide, following an autopsy.{{cite web|last1=Nissim|first1=Mayer|title=GRL star Simone Battle cause of death ruled as suicide|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a595160/grl-star-simone-battle-cause-of-death-ruled-as-suicide.html#~oPovwJS3yoIEKS|website=Digital Spy|access-date=September 8, 2014|date=September 8, 2014}} The next day, the group released a statement via Twitter, saying, "Words cannot express the depth of our loss. Simone's incredible talent was only surpassed by the size of her heart."{{cite web|author1=G.R.L.|title=Words cannot express the depth of our loss. Simone's incredible talent was only surpassed by the size of her heart.|url=https://twitter.com/grl/status/508299157002813440|via=Twitter|access-date=10 June 2015|date=6 September 2014}} In a following tweet, they said "We will carry her memory with us in everything we do."{{cite web|author1=G.R.L.|title=We will carry her memory with us in everything we do.|url=https://twitter.com/grl/status/508299175763906561|website=Twitter|access-date=10 June 2015|date=6 September 2014}}

=2015: ''Lighthouse'', G.R.L. Gives an Hour and hiatus=

File:G.R.L._Campaign_to_Change_Direction_04032015.jpg]]

The group released their first single since Battle's death, "Lighthouse".{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/girl-group-grl-struggle-with-their-grief-as-they-release-new-single-lighthouse-in-honour-of-simone-battle/story-e6frfn09-1227186274145|title=Girl group G.R.L. struggle with their grief as they release new single Lighthouse in honour of Simone Battle|last=McCabe|first=Kathy|date=January 15, 2015|publisher=news.com.au|access-date=January 16, 2015|archive-date=September 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918234407/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/girl-group-grl-struggle-with-their-grief-as-they-release-new-single-lighthouse-in-honour-of-simone-battle/story-e6frfn09-1227186274145|url-status=dead}} Along with the single, the group announced a new campaign with [http://www.giveanhour.org/ Give an Hour] called G.R.L. Gives an Hour, which was dedicated to raise awareness about mental health issues in America.{{cite web|title=G.R.L Gives an Hour |url=http://www.giveanhour.org/News/NewsHomePage/tabid/234/novusact/viewarticle/Default.aspx?articleid=16469 |website=Give an Hour |access-date=10 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611160136/http://www.giveanhour.org/News/NewsHomePage/tabid/234/novusact/viewarticle/Default.aspx?articleid=16469 |archive-date=11 June 2015 }} G.R.L. Gives an Hour later became an associate campaign of Michelle Obama's [http://www.changedirection.org/ Change Direction].{{cite web|title=The Campaign to Change Direction |url=http://www.changedirection.org/portfolio/366/ |website=The Campaign to Change Direction |access-date=10 June 2015 |date=5 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612003158/http://www.changedirection.org/portfolio/366/ |archive-date=12 June 2015}} "Lighthouse" peaked at number thirty on the ARIA Singles Chart in Australia, number eighteen on the New Zealand singles chart, number 55 on the UK Singles Chart, number 35 on the sales-only based version of the chart and at number 24 on the Scottish Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/news/50028/chartifacts-wednesday-28th-january-2015?pos=2|title=Chartifacts Wednesday 28th January 2015|date=January 28, 2015|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 31, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131051756/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/news/50028/chartifacts-wednesday-28th-january-2015?pos=2|archive-date=January 31, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2011-11-11 |title=Singles |publisher=Recorded Music New Zealand |access-date=February 13, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418081956/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles |archive-date=April 18, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/ |title=Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100 - 15-03-2015 - 21-03-2015 |publisher=Official Charts Company |archive-date=10 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310145234/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/ |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20150315/41 |title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Top 100 - 15-03-2015 - 21-03-2015 - Official Charts Company |publisher=Official Charts Company |archive-date=17 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317111251/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/ |url-status=dead}}

On March 10, 2015, it was revealed by the band during their performance on Australian breakfast television program Sunrise while in Hawaii that they would be the opening act for Meghan Trainor on the Australian leg of her That Bass Tour where they performed on April 27 and April 30.{{cite web|title=Meghan Trainor announces 2015 Australian Tour!|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/news/49770/meghan-trainor-announces-2015-australian-tour!|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=June 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110220550/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/news/49770/meghan-trainor-announces-2015-australian-tour!|archive-date=January 10, 2015|date=January 8, 2015}}

The group officially disbanded on 2 June 2015 through a joint statement from RCA Records, Kemosabe Records, Larry Rudolph, and Robin Antin, stating "Nearly 9 months following the tragic death of band member Simone Battle, girl group G.R.L. announces today that they are disbanding. We wish them continued success in each of their next creative endeavors."{{cite magazine|url=http://m.billboard.com/entry/view/id/127531|title=GRL Breaks Up|author=Jason Lipshutz|magazine=Billboard|publisher=(Prometheus Global Media)|date=June 3, 2015|access-date=June 3, 2015|archive-date=October 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016200159/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6583231/grl-breaks-up-official-simone-battle|url-status=dead}}{{cite tweet |last=Slayton |first=Natasha |user=NatashaTSlayton |number=605953805339860992 |date=June 3, 2015 |title=Words can't describe how much I appreciate all of these posts from all of you.🙏❤️Me = emotional❤️..If it were up to me, we would keep going. |language=en |access-date=June 14, 2021}}{{cite web|author1=L.J. Williamson|title=ROBIN ANTIN BUILT A GIRL GROUP EMPIRE WITH THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS. BUT DOES THE FORMULA STILL WORK?|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/robin-antin-built-a-girl-group-empire-with-the-pussycat-dolls-but-does-the-formula-still-work-5643705|website=L.A. Weekly|access-date=12 June 2015|date=2 June 2015}}

=2016–2020: Reformation=

In June 2016, the group's new rep, Matt Wynter, stated that the girls were back via Loco Talent's website.{{cite web |url=http://www.locotalent.co.uk/artists/profile/grl/ |title=Loco Talent — GRL |access-date=2016-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620143600/http://www.locotalent.co.uk/artists/profile/grl |archive-date=2016-06-20}} G.R.L.'s new single was expected to be released in the summer.{{cite web|last1=Haigh|first1=Joshua|title=They're BACK! GRL set to reform almost two years after the tragic loss of Simone Battle|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/theyre-back-grl-set-reform-8198095|website=Mirror|access-date=15 June 2016|date=2016-06-15}}

On August 5, 2016, it was announced that Jazzy Mejia was added as the third member of G.R.L. alongside Bennett and Slayton, making the group officially a trio.{{cite web|last1=Macatee|first1=Rebecca|title=Girl Group G.R.L. Reforms Nearly Two Years After Simone Battle's Tragic Suicide|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/785611/girl-group-g-r-l-reforms-nearly-two-years-after-simone-battle-s-tragic-suicide|website=E! News|access-date=6 August 2016|date=2016-08-05}} The newly reformed G.R.L. headlined the Australian music festival Nickelodeon Slimefest in September 2016.{{cite web|title=GRL at Slimefest|url=http://www.nick.com.au/festival/slimefest/ixjbvb/lineup/GRL/kci7as|website=nick.com.au|access-date=26 June 2016|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821134637/http://www.nick.com.au/festival/slimefest/ixjbvb/lineup/GRL/kci7as|url-status=dead}}

On August 28, 2016, the trio released their first promotional single together, "Kiss Myself".{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a809528/grl-new-song-2016-kiss-myself-listen/|title=Listen to GRL's big new club banger 'Kiss Myself'|website=Digital Spy|date=29 September 2016}} The single "Are We Good" was released on December 9, with a music video released on January 26, 2017.

In May 2018, Jazzy Mejia confirmed on Twitter that G.R.L. would be going on tour.{{cite tweet |last=Mejia |first=Jazzy |user=JazzyMejiaOnly |number=995025679627370497 |date=May 11, 2018 |title=The Rumors are true. GRL is going on tour ❤️ |language=en |access-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017003510/https://twitter.com/JazzyMejiaOnly/status/995025679627370497 |archive-date=October 17, 2019 |url-status=live}} Dates were announced for February 2019 in Australia alongside S Club 3, Big Brovaz and 5ive,{{Cite news|url=http://rockclub40.com/five-special-guest-s-club-3-big-brovaz-and-g-r-l-announce-poptastic-australian-tour-february-2019/|title=FIVE + Special Guest S Club 3, Big Brovaz and G.R.L. Announce Poptastic! Australian Tour February 2019|date=2018-05-08|work=Rock Club 40|access-date=2018-05-20}} but it was later confirmed that G.R.L. would not be performing on the tour. They stated on Twitter that they hope to tour soon.

In 2020, Mejia's withdrawal from the group was announced.

=2020–present: Emmalyn's return and new music=

In September 2020 member Natasha Slayton posted a video of herself, Lauren Bennett and former members Emmalyn Estrada and Paula van Oppen dancing to a song alongside the founder of the group, Robin Antin, on her Instagram stories. Since then, fans started speculating that the group was reforming alongside member Jazzy Mejia. Later in October of the same year, Slayton, Estrada and van Oppen started posting TikTok videos with each other, making the rumors of the group reforming increase. By November 2020, posts from the group's Instagram and Twitter accounts during the time Mejia was a member of the group were unexpectedly deleted, a new profile picture with the group's logo was added. During the same month, a TikTok account by the group's name was made, posting clips from the music videos by the original line-up of the group.

On December 10, 2020, a few clips and pictures from what seemed to look like the set from the group's next music video were posted by Bennett, Estrada and Slayton. The fans immediately noticed the absence of van Oppen. Later that day, the group's manager, Matt Ziedman, announced that van Oppen had decided not to rejoin the group.{{cite tweet |last=Ziedman |first=Matt |user=mz |number=1336936450932150272 |date=December 10, 2020 |title=GRL Fans: unfortunately, Paula has decided not to continue with us. We love her lots but are looking forward to new music, shows, and more in 2021. |language=en |access-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214628/https://twitter.com/mz/status/1336936450932150272 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |url-status=live}} van Oppen also explained why she decided not to reform with the rest of the group on an Instagram post.{{Cite web |date=December 10, 2020 |title=hi! there have been some assumptions about why I left and i'd like to set the record straight: i decided to not continue for my own personal reasons.... |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CIosMDHjj4L/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= |access-date=November 3, 2022 |website=Instagram}}

In January 2021, a few clips from what was rumored to be the group's next music video were posted to the group's Instagram, TikTok and Twitter accounts, the clips in fact were the members dancing and singing along to a medley of the group's singles. Later in the same month, the group did an Instagram live alongside Antin and Ziedman confirming their return and future new music. They also explained why Mejia was not invited to said return by saying that Estrada, van Oppen and management were only interested in reforming the group's original line-up.{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2021 |title=Had the best time going live w ya'll!... |url=https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKZ0uOeBzJ-/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= |access-date=November 3, 2022 |website=Instagram}}

By April 2021, Ziedman, the group's manager, responded to a fan of the group on Twitter explaining that he was not "involved" with the group's return anymore.{{cite tweet |last=Ziedman |first=Matt |user=mz |number=1383607882487255045 |date=April 17, 2021 |title=@tvdsddl Idk im not involved anymore 🤷🏻♂️ |language=en |access-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418030117/https://twitter.com/mz/status/1383607882487255045 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |url-status=live}}

Artistry<!-- For music-->

G.R.L. is a pop, teen pop and R&B girl group.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/girl-group-grl-split-up-5812804|title=Girl group G.R.L split up nine months after tragic death of bandmate Simone Battle|author=Charlotte Wareing|work=Mirror|date=June 3, 2015|access-date=April 1, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/grl-mn0003132152|title=G.R.L. biography|author=Matt Collar|work=Allmusic|date=August 16, 2012|access-date=April 1, 2018}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/grl|title=G.R.L.|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 1, 2018}}

Members timeline

class="wikitable"

|+ List of members, with years active

colspan="2"|Member2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
style="background:gold" |Emmalyn Estrada
{{small|(2012–2015; 2020–present)}}
colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:gold;" |colspan="4" |colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background:gold;" |
style="background:hotpink" |Lauren Bennett
{{small|(2012–present)}}
colspan="10" style="text-align:center; background:hotpink;" |
style="background:blue" |Natasha Slayton
{{small|(2012–present)}}
colspan="10" style="text-align:center; background:blue;" |
style="background:brown"|Simone Battle
{{small|(2012–2014; her death)}}
colspan="3" style="text-align:center; background:brown;" |colspan="7"|
style="background:green"|Paula van Oppen
{{small|(2012–2015; 2020)}}
colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:green;"|colspan="4"|colspan="1" style="text-align:center; background:green;"|colspan="1"|
style="background:red"|Jazzy Mejia
{{small|(2016–2020)}}
colspan="4"|colspan="5" style="text-align:center; background:Red;"|colspan="1"|

Discography

{{Main|G.R.L. discography}}

Tours

Supporting

Notes

{{notelist|30em}}

{{notelist-ua|30em}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}