Liam Payne

Liam Payne was a British pop star who rose to global fame as a member of One Direction.

In 2008, when he was 14, the aspiring singer tried out for the The X-Factor as a soloist. While he was initially rejected from that season, Payne returned to the show in 2010 after Simon Cowell encouraged him to come back. The then-17 year-old was subsequently placed into a five-piece group with his future bandmates: Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson

From the release of their 2011 debut LP Up All Night, One Direction sky-rocketed to fame thanks to powerhouse single like “What Makes You Beautiful.” Payne co-wrote hit songs on the band’s following albums, including 2013’s “Story of My Life.” One Direction went on hiatus in 2016 following Malik’s departure and each member embarked on solo careers.

In 2017, Payne released his Ed Sheeran-penned single “Strip That Down,” which reached Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was featured on his debut solo album LP1 in 2019. Throughout his solo career, he also released collaborations with J Balvin, French Montana, Dixie D’Amelio, and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie. Payne marked his return to solo releases in March 2024 when he dropped “Teardrops,” co-written with ‘NSync’s JC Chasez.

Throughout the years, the singer struggled with substance abuse. In 2023, he shared details of his sobriety. On October 16, 2024, the British singer died after falling from the third floor of CasaSur Palmero Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.