Liam Payne may have departed from this world, but his memory lingers on, cherished by all. During the highly anticipated premiere of his final TV venture, the Netflix reality competition series "Building the Band," host AJ McLean paid an emotional tribute to the late One Direction singer that tugged at heartstrings.
"As we gathered to embark on the journey of filming 'Building the Band,' little did we know that we would soon be bidding adieu to our dear friend, Liam Payne," AJ, a member of the Backstreet Boys, solemnly announced at the onset of the July 9 episode. "Liam serves as a guest judge in the upcoming episodes, and through his presence, we are reminded of his profound love for music and his unwavering dedication to empowering others to find their voice." He further added, "It is in that very spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his loved ones."
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"Building the Band" marks Liam's swansong on television, nearly nine months after he tragically passed away at the age of 31 following a fatal fall from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The innovative series, which features Liam as a judge alongside seasoned music industry professionals Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger, brings together 50 aspiring singers and artists in isolation booths. Unable to see each other physically, they form bands solely based on the sound of their voices. These nascent groups must then collaborate to create a cohesive unit, performing live on stage in a bid to secure the top spot.
In a previously released teaser for the show, Liam, drawing from his own experiences auditioning for "X Factor" with One Direction in 2010, imparted wisdom to a group of hopeful industry entrants. "You've got a lot of vocal work ahead of you," he advised them. "I need to feel that connection between you all." To another team of contestants, he shared, "Being put together in these bands isn't usual – we were put together that way too."
Regarding Liam's posthumous TV appearance, his sisters, Ruth Gibbins and Nicola Payne, granted Netflix their blessing for the show, which was filmed mere months before his untimely demise in October 2024. Following the release of the trailer, Nicola, 37, posted on her Instagram Stories, "Over the years, I've celebrated many achievements and milestones as a proud sister, and I couldn't be more proud of this show. I know you would be too. Watching this over the past few months has given me, us, a way to still feel close to you and see you at your best. I'm thrilled that the world gets to witness it all now. You're a shining star, missed beyond words, loved beyond measure."
Echoing her sentiments, Ruth shared on her social media platform, "I hesitated whether to share this, but it felt odd not to, considering I've raved about Liam's work and accomplishments for the past 15 years. I'm heartbroken that he never got to see how incredible he is in this show. He knew he had done a good job, and we all told him so during filming. But watching it back, wow!"
