“The Day He Passed Away: Nicole Scherzinger Was Texting Liam Payne”

Recently, renowned English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber disclosed that Nicole Scherzinger had been in contact with Liam Payne via text on October 16, the day he passed away.

Having collaborated with the former Pussycat Dolls star on the Jamie Lloyd-directed musical *Sunset Blvd*, Andrew discussed the relationship between Nicole and the late One Direction member during an interview with Billboard, released on October 24.

While sharing insights about Jamie Lloyd’s vision for *Sunset Blvd* and his choice of Nicole for the lead role, Andrew, who has known the singer for 15 years, remarked:

“One remarkable thing about Nicole is that once she commits to a project, she truly becomes an incredible teammate and leader among performers.”

He added:

“Something worth mentioning, which hasn’t been widely shared, is that she served as a mentor to Liam [Payne] from One Direction. On the day he died, she was still exchanging messages with him.”

At 76 years old, Andrew praised Nicole Scherzinger for her unwavering professionalism and commitment, noting it was “extraordinary”that she performed in the musical that same evening after receiving the news of Liam’s passing. He emphasized:

“She is truly an incredible woman, without a doubt one of the best performers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”

The Meeting of Nicole Scherzinger and Liam Payne at The X-Factor UK

Nicole Scherzinger first crossed paths with Liam Payne in 2010 while serving as a judge on *The X-Factor UK*, where Liam auditioned as a young contestant.

A previously unreleased behind-the-scenes clip shared by *The X-Factor UK* on their official YouTube channel illustrated how Nicole proposed the formation of a group with multiple contestants instead of eliminating them.

In a video uploaded on July 23, 2022, as part of her concept for “an imaginary boy band,”other judges Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh helped sort pictures of contestants Niall Horan, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson. Nicole stated:

“I believe they would excel in a boy band together. They’re all little stars, and stars need to shine together rather than be separated.”

She then added Liam Payne’s picture to the mix, stating:

“I see him truly shining in this setup; he could potentially take the lead.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dr1-sVhC9o

NEVER BEFORE SEEN footage of One Direction's formation | The X Factor UK (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dr1-sVhC9o)

Ultimately, after including Zayn’s image with the others, the judges agreed on the group’s final composition. Nicole Scherzinger commented back then:

“These contestants are simply too talented to let go; they possess the right look and stage presence.”

She further remarked:

“I have high hopes for them as a boy band.”

Liam Payne was set to reunite as a judge and mentor alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland on the upcoming Netflix series, *Building the Band*, which was filmed prior to his untimely demise at the age of 31.

In an Instagram tribute shared on October 25, Nicole Scherzinger honored the memory of the late One Direction star, writing:

“I will eternally treasure the moments we shared, from the days One Direction was formed to just a few weeks ago.”

Pondering her recent collaboration with Liam, she remarked:

“It was such a gift to work with you recently. Our shared love for music and our meaningful conversations will stay with me forever.”

Nicole emphasized the difficulty of reconciling Liam’s absence but expressed gratitude for having known him. Referring to the late singer as a “friend,”Nicole vowed to hold onto his memory and extended her sympathies to his family.

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