Irish Grinstead, a member of the R&B girl group 702, passed away on Saturday, September 17, at the age of 43. The somber news was confirmed by her sister and fellow group member, LeMisha Grinstead, who shared a heartfelt statement on social media.
In her statement, LeMisha Grinstead expressed her profound sadness, saying, “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.”
Tragically, this marks the second loss of a sibling and former group member for LeMisha, as she had previously lost their sister, Orish Grinstead, in 2008 due to kidney failure.
702 burst onto the music scene in the early ’90s, becoming known for their hit singles such as “Where My Girls At,” “Get It Together,” and “Steelo,” the latter of which was remixed for the 2000s Nickelodeon show, Cousin Skeeter. Following the release of their 2003 album Star, the group disbanded but occasionally reunited.
In 2022, Irish took a hiatus from 702 for undisclosed health reasons.
Our condolences extend to the friends and family of Irish Grinstead during this difficult time.
