Tayyaba
Irish Grinstead, a beloved member of the R&B girl group 702, responsible for hit songs such as Where My Girls At, has passed away at age 43. Her sister and group member, Lemisha Grinstead, announced the tragic news on Instagram on Saturday. Heartfelt tributes to the singer have followed the news on social media by friends, family and acquaintances.
What did Lemisha Grinstead say about Irish Grinstead’s death?
Lemisha Grinstead, the deceased’s sister and fellow girl group member, announced Irish’s death on Instagram. In the touching tribute, she wrote: “It is with great sadness that I have to let you know that my beautiful sister and friend has passed away this evening. She has had a long battle and she is finally at peace. That girl was as bright as the stars! She was not only beautiful on the outside, but also within.”
“Sharing the stage with her was a joy I will cherish for the rest of my life! We, the family ask for prayers and respect for our privacy as we grieve an outstanding loss to our family,” continued the statement. While no cause of death has yet been disclosed, Irish’s family reported in December that she was taking a “medical leave of absence due to serious medical issues.”
Irish Grinstead & ‘702’: A Musical Legacy
The group, comprised of the Irish and Lemisha Grinstead, along with Kameelah Williams, took their name from their hometown’s area code. They debuted their first album No Doubt in 1996, featuring Steelo as the theme song for Nickelodeon’s TV series Cousin Skeeter. They later released their second album 702, with the hit song Where My Girls At on it, three years later. They released their single Pootie Tangin’ off the soundtrack for the Chris Rock film Pootie Tang, with Williams briefly replaced by Cree La’More. Star, the next album, included the single I Still Love You and was created when Williams was back in the scene.
In 2006, the band announced an 11-year break. Afterwards, in 2021, the Grinstead sisters starred on BET Presents: The Encore, a reality show that followed nine former girl-group members as they attempted to establish a supergroup and record an album in 30 days. Throughout their career, 702 was nominated for an American Music Award, a BET Award, and numerous Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, with No Doubt winning best R&B/soul album of the year by a group, band, or duo.