The entertainment world was rocked by the sudden passing of Liam Payne in October 2024. The singer, just 31, who rose to fame with the boy band One Direction, tragically died after falling from a hotel balcony while in Argentina. He left behind his parents, his sisters, and his 8-year-old son with ex-partner Cheryl Cole.
In a recent interview, musical artist Nicole Scherzinger shared a poignant detail. She revealed to The Times of London that she had spoken with Payne just hours before his death. The 47-year-old explained it was "just a casual and quite light chat."
Scherzinger first crossed paths with Payne back in 2010. She was a judge on The X Factor UK when he auditioned, playing a key role in the formation of One Direction. More recently, their paths intertwined again as mentors on Netflix’s competition show, Building the Band, which premiered earlier this year. Their shared passion for music created a special bond.
"I just adored Liam. He had such a good heart," the former Pussycat Dolls singer told the publication. "I barely knew him when I put One Direction together. I saw these talented boys and thought, ‘I come from a girl group, I know the power a group has.’"
Scherzinger learned of Payne’s death right before one of her Broadway performances in Sunset Blvd. She starred as Norma Desmond in the production, which concluded its run this past summer. Despite her grief, she had to perform. "The show must go on," Scherzinger stated. "Since then, I dedicated a small moment of the show to Liam every night. Just an instant that always made me think of him."
Payne’s untimely death prompted Scherzinger to rethink her own life’s priorities. She felt a deeper need for compassion in the world. "Our phones are our enemies as much as they help us," she shared with the British newspaper. "I wish we’d cancel ‘cancel culture’."
Weeks after his passing, Scherzinger had already shared her heartbreak on Instagram. On October 25, 2024, she posted a heartfelt message. "Dear Liam, I will always cherish and hold in my heart the time we shared, from 15 years ago when One Direction was born until just a few weeks ago," she wrote. "It was a blessing to be able to work with you recently. We shared the same love and passion for music and I will always remember the meaningful and joyful conversations we had."
Her message continued, "It has been very difficult to accept that you are no longer here, but I am grateful to have known your good heart, sweet soul, and character. You brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the lives of those who truly knew you. I will miss you, my friend, and will carry you always in my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with your family."
Later, watching Building the Band when it premiered with a dedication to Payne proved challenging for Scherzinger. She spoke about this on Late Night With Seth Meyers in July. "We are so proud of him. He had an incredible time," she said. "We had a blast doing the show together, and he’s a beautiful person, a very kind soul and heart." She added that they only continued sharing the show with the blessing of his family. "We are so proud of him and I’m excited for everyone to see Liam shine."