Irish Grinstead of Girl Group 702 Dead at 43: 'As Bright as the Stars'

Grinstead's sister and bandmate LeMisha Grinstead announced the news of her death on Saturday

Irish Grinstead of '90s girl group 702 has died at the age of 43, her sister and bandmate LeMisha Grinstead announced on Saturday.

The singer, who was known for contributing to songs such as “Where My Girls At" and "Get It Together," died following "a long battle," 702's LeMisha said. The news comes nine months after 702 announced in December that Irish took "a medical leave of absence due to serious medical issues" as she stepped away from the group.

"It is with great sadness that I have to let you know that my beautiful sister and friend has passed away this evening," LeMisha wrote on Instagram, alongside a black-and-white portrait of Irish. "She has had a long battle and she is finally at peace."

LeMisha added that her sister was "as bright as the stars," and "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," she continued. "We the family ask for prayers and respect for our privacy as we grieve an outstanding loss to our family."

Several friends and fans in the music industry and beyond also paid tribute to the late singer on social media and within the post's comments section, including Pusha-T, Da Brat, Missy Elliott, Tamar Braxton, SWV, Kenan Thompson, Brownstone, Yvette Nicole Brown and Hi-Tek.

"💔🙏🏾🕊️ Multitude of Prayers for your family🙏🏾," Elliott commented, while Braxton added, "💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 sister I’m so sorry."

"Irish May your beautiful soul Rest Peacefully in the arms of the Lord," Elliott wrote on X. "A Multitude of prayers for the entire Grinstead family #702."

Irish and LeMisha made up two-thirds of the band's lineup, which also included vocalist Kameelah Williams. The group — which takes its name from the area code of the members' hometown, Las Vegas — released its first LP No Doubt in 1996.

Their self-titled LP was released in 1999 and featured the track "Where My Girls At," which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. It stands as one of the group's three singles to be certified Gold by the RIAA, including "Get It Together" and "Steelo," which was the theme song for Nickelodeon's Cousin Skeeter.

Fellow bandmate Williams shared on Instagram that she was "devastated and heartbroken" by the news of her friend's death. She also referenced the 2008 death of Irish's twin and original band member, Orish Grinstead.

"I struggled with this post because to me this isn’t real," she wrote on Sunday morning. "❤️‍🩹 There’s a lot I want to say, but there’s no way to say what your heart hasn’t fully accepted."

"It’s hard to acknowledge this is even happening," Williams added. "I know you’re feeling better now and hugging your twin Orish which makes me smile 🥹 cus I know how much you missed her. You & I have known each other since we were kids and we’ve laughed, cried, celebrated and everything in between which is why I just don’t want to believe this. You’ll always be my 'IBG' & I still love you my forever lil sis!!!"

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.