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Kelsey Bateman, who appeared on the third and final season of VH1's Rock of Love with Bret Michaels, has died at the age of 39.
Family members confirmed the news to TMZ, saying Bateman passed away "unexpectedly," though her exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Authorities have not released further details.
Bateman competed in Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels, which aired in 2009 and followed women vying for the heart of Poison frontman Bret Michaels while traveling with him on tour buses. She was 21 at the time of filming and advanced into the top ten contestants before being eliminated in the seventh episode.
Her departure became one of the season's most memorable moments. During the elimination episode, Bateman shared that she had broken down emotionally and even ended up lying on a speed bump while crying. Despite the incident, she insisted that she was prepared to hear whatever Michaels had to say to her. She also pointed out that she was likely not the only contestant who had gotten drunk and ended up in such a situation.
During the elimination, Michaels spoke directly to Bateman, noting that he had noticed her absence during the concert. He expressed his admiration for her but explained that he sometimes had to make difficult choices on behalf of others. In the end, he decided that her journey on the tour would come to a close.
After being eliminated, Bateman returned to Salt Lake City, Utah, and spoke candidly about her plans moving forward. She shared that she intended to focus on herself, remain single for a while, and approach future relationships differently, steering away from older partners and the rock-and-roll lifestyle.
Outside of reality television, Bateman reportedly lived in the Salt Lake City area in recent years. A LinkedIn page linked to her name listed work in sales for Vox Nutrition, a supplement manufacturing company based in Utah.
The season Bateman appeared in concluded with Taya Parker being crowned the winner. Following the end of Rock of Love in 2009, Michaels later starred in the docuseries Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It.
