Vernie Bennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vernie Bennett
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| Birth name | Vernett Bennett |
| Born | 17 May 1971 |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, lawyer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Associated acts | Eternal |
Vernett "Vernie" Bennett (born 17 May 1971) is an English singer. She is a founding member of the R&B music group Eternal. Her sister, Easther Bennett, was also a member of the group. The original group also included Kéllé Bryan and Louise Nurding.
Eternal was formed in 1992. The group became a trio in 1995 when Louise Nurding (now known as Louise Redknapp) left to start her own singing career. They became a duo in 1998 when Kéllé Bryan left the group. Eternal eventually stopped performing together in 2000 after selling 10 million records around the world. After the group split, Vernie went back to university to finish her law degree. She is now a lawyer and has a family with her husband and two children. She has also appeared on British television shows as a presenter and a guest.
Life and Career
Vernie Bennett was born in 1971 and grew up in Croydon, South London. As a child, she sang in a gospel choir with her sister, Easther.
Eternal: The Music Group
The band Eternal was formed in 1991. They released their first song, "Stay", in 1993. This song became a top ten hit in the UK and a top 20 hit in the American Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Eternal was nominated for four Brit Awards. They sang for the soundtrack of Disney's movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame. They had many hit songs. The group also sang for the Pope at the Vatican. They took part in the anti-apartheid movement by performing at a large concert in Johannesburg, South Africa. They also appeared in a Pepsi advertisement. The band sold over 10 million records and had their first number one song in 1997.
Eternal released five albums during their career: Always and Forever, Power of a Woman, Before the Rain, Greatest Hits, and Eternal. In 1998, Kéllé Bryan left the group. The last album, Eternal, and its main song "What'cha Gonna Do" only featured Vernie and her sister. After this, the group stopped performing together.
In December 2013, it was announced that Eternal would reunite for the second series of the ITV2 reality show The Big Reunion. This reunion led to the group performing several concerts in 2014. In September 2023, there were reports about the group's reunion tour. In 2024, Christel Lakhdar joined the group. The sisters spoke on BBC London radio about their new member and their excitement for festival performances in Summer 2024. Eternal has continued to perform in 2024 and has dates planned for 2025.
Podcast Work
Vernie started a podcast called Big Chat Small Talk in June 2024. She hosts it with her friend, Louise Anderson. The podcast is available on major audio platforms like Apple Podcasts. In its first week, the podcast reached a top ten position in the UK.
Television Appearances
Vernie has appeared on television many times. She was a TV presenter for Songs of Praise, Gala Bingo, and the MTV Music Awards.
On 25 November 2015, Vernie and her husband Bryan appeared on ITV's game show All Star Mr & Mrs. They raised £30,000 for charity. This money was donated to Cancer Research UK and CMV Action UK.
During the 2015/2016 Christmas season, Vernie took on her first acting role on stage. She played the 'Spirit of the Beans' in Jack and the Beanstalk. She continues to support the charity CMV Action UK.
In 2018, she was a guest on the ITV game show Big Star's Little Star.
Personal Life
After the group Eternal stopped performing, Vernie went back to university. She finished studying law and is now a practicing lawyer. In 2006, she had her first child. In August 2010, she signed with ASM Artist Management. She lives in London with her husband and their two children.
