The Recording Academy honored Liam Payne during the 2025 Grammys on Sunday, February 2, nearly five months after his passing.
A tribute featuring footage from Payne’s One Direction days opened the In Memoriam segment. His voice echoed in the background as music played.
“We never expected any of this to happen,” Payne’s voice said before Chris Martin began singing. “We have done some amazing things.”
Payne rose to fame alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik after One Direction was formed on the U.K.’s The X Factor in 2010.
The band released four successful albums before Malik’s departure in March 2015. Later that year, the remaining four members released their fifth and final album before going on an indefinite hiatus in December.
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Following the band’s split, each member pursued solo music careers while continuing to show support for one another. Before his sudden passing in October 2024, Payne remained a strong advocate for his former bandmates’ music releases.
Although Styles, Malik, Tomlinson, and Horan were absent from the 2025 Grammys, they briefly reunited at Payne’s funeral in England in November 2024.
“[Liam’s death] was a wake-up call for all of them. Before this, they stayed in touch sporadically but weren’t particularly close,” a source told exclusively in December 2024.
“They’re all still mourning, but they’re checking in on each other more often and feel closer than they have in years. It has brought them back together.”
Liam Payne’s Tragic Passing
Payne passed away at the age of 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires.
The day after his death, Styles, Malik, Tomlinson, and Horan released a joint statement mourning their former bandmate, while also sharing individual tributes on social media.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is ready, there will be more to say,” they wrote at the time.
“For now, we need time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, whom we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will always be cherished. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you, Liam.”
A preliminary autopsy determined that Payne’s cause of death was “multiple traumas,” including hemorrhages in his chest, skull, and abdomen.
Reports also revealed that a toxicology screening found traces of “pink cocaine”—a blend of methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA—along with cocaine, benzodiazepines, and crack in his system at the time of his death.
