Death is something we can never truly get used to. When we lose a loved one or someone we know, even if we’re not deeply attached to them, our hearts ache, and it feels as if they’ve been torn in two. That’s how many people are feeling about the passing of One Direction star Liam Payne. But let’s shift to a brighter note and take a look at some of his most epic moments.
Rose to stardom through a musical group, One Direction
Liam rose to stardom in 2010 as part of a group called One Direction, formed during The X Factor. One Direction, often shortened to 1D, was a musical boy band that consisted of several talented young men. Each of them was destined for stardom in their own right, as they later went on to have successful solo careers while continuing to support each other—Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and others. During their time as a group, they became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, with a massive fanbase worldwide. That’s what we call boy band stardom.
Had a son with Cheryl Tweedy
A partner always has an impact on our lives, whether we like it or not, and whether that impact is positive or negative. For Liam and Cheryl, it was a positive chapter despite their eventual split, as it brought their son Bear into the world. According to CNN, Liam is survived by his son Bear, whom he had with former Girls Aloud member Cheryl Tweedy. Tweedy, a former X Factor judge, was present for both of Payne’s X Factor auditions. The couple announced their split in 2018 but continued to co-parent. Bear introduced Liam to parenthood – a stage that is new, unteachable, and deeply transformative. He did his best. Rest in peace, Liam.
Broke into his solo career
In 2019, Liam released his debut solo album called, LP1. He mentioned that he was working on his second album in 2023 In March of that year, he released the single Teardrops, a song he described was “born from many tears. Some are mine. Others are not.”
Liam passes on
On 16 October 2024, heartbreaking news flooded social media timelines and news outlets about Liam’s untimely passing. It was a sad moment for many, including his former bandmate and friend Niall Horan, who shared that he felt “so fortunate” to have seen Liam while touring in Argentina. Niall added, “I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, it would be goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.” Devastating indeed – life is truly a mystery!